Ombudsman’s Office receives delegation from Guinea-Bissau as part of study visit organised by the United Nations

On 28 November, the Ombudsman’s Office received a delegation made up of representatives from the National Human Rights Commission and the Government of Guinea-Bissau as part of a study visit to Portugal as part of the project to create a Mechanism for the Preparation of Reports, Implementation and Follow-up in this partner country. This initiative, which took place between 26 and 29 November, was promoted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in collaboration with UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme.

During the work, which took place in sessions focused on sharing experiences, good practices and challenges, the multidimensional mandate of the Portuguese Ombudsman was made known, namely its mission as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) accredited with ‘A’ status and as a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). In this context, the role of NHRIs as bridges between the international system and national realities was emphasised, as well as in promoting a more robust and effective human rights culture.

This initiative is part of the Ombudsman’s tradition of co-operation with various entities in Guinea-Bissau in order to help strengthen their institutional capacities and consolidate in the country a solid and efficient system for the protection and promotion of human rights.