Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces

Citizens, Uniforms and Human Rights
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-93638-3
Verlag: Taylor & Francis

Buch, Englisch, 248 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Cass Military Studies

This book examines ombuds institutions for the armed forces as mechanisms of accountability, human rights protection, and democratic oversight.

The volume examines the history, institutional design, and practices of ombuds institutions for the armed forces, as well as the challenges they face across a diverse range of legal and political settings. In doing so, the book seeks to illustrate their importance within the broader ecosystem of democratic security governance, as providers of independent oversight with a unique interface to the individual and the capacity to engage with the day to day, administrative, and interpersonal dimensions of military authority. Combining desk research, comparative legal analysis, and insights from practitioner exchanges in the context of the International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (ICOAF), the book offers an analytical account of these institutions that is grounded in the contexts in which they operate and the conditions that shape their work. Furthermore, new emerging challenges are also covered, such as the pandemic, climate change, protection of the mental health of soldiers, protection against sexual abuse and exploitation, digitalization, ombuds’ role in peace support operations, and the challenges of operating in an armed conflict and in the context of democratic backsliding

This book will be of much interest to students of military studies, human rights, law and security studies, as well as practitioners.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Reference, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Glušac, Luka

Reimers, Daniel

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Internationale Organisationen und Institutionen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Staatsbürgerkunde, Staatsbürgerschaft, Zivilgesellschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Militärgeschichte
• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Öffentlicher Dienst Wehrrecht, Soldaten- und Zivildienstrecht, Bundesfreiwilligendienst
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Nichtregierungsorganisation (NGOs)
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Menschenrechte, Bürgerrechte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen Diplomatie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1. Introduction  PART I: ESTABLISHMENT  Chapter 2. The Origins and Diffusion of Ombuds Institutions Chapter 3. Models, standards, and working principles Chapter 4. Independence Chapter 5. Reporting and Accountability Chapter 6. Preconditions for effectiveness  PART II: FUNCTIONS AND POWERS  Chapter 7. An Overview of the Functions and Powers of Ombuds Chapter 8. Complaint Procedures Chapter 9. Investigations and Access to Information Chapter 10. Recommendations Chapter 11. Forging partnerships, preserving independence  PART III: CHALLENGES  Chapter 12. The duty of care and the care for duty Chapter 13. Operating in the armed conflict context Chapter 14. Oversight of military support to civilian authorities Chapter 15. Operating under threat Chapter 16. Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Luka Glušac is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. Previously, he spent nine years working in the Secretariat of the Protector of Citizens (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Serbia.

Daniel Reimers is a Programme Manager in the Research and Training Entity at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), Switzerland. He has worked extensively with ombuds institutions for the armed forces, leading DCAF’s Ombuds Programme.