The SCA acknowledges that Article 10.a. of the ORB Rules of Procedure provides that the Ombudsman’s administration is appointed in accordance with the principles of transparency, efficiency, pluralism, and non-discrimination. It notes that two thirds of its staff complement are women and that there are two staff members with Turkish ethnic origin, and two staff members with special needs.

The SCA notes that the Ombudsman Act is silent on diversity and gender balance. The SCA is of the view that the pluralistic composition of an NHRI facilitates the institution’s appreciation of and capacity to engage in all human rights affecting the society in which it operates and promotes institutional accessibility.

The SCA encourages the ORB to take further steps to ensure pluralism in its staff composition and consider advocating for amendments to its enabling law or any binding administrative instruments to ensure a pluralistic composition of its decision-making and staff body.

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.1 and to its General Observation 1.7 on ‘Ensuring pluralism of the NHRI.’