Speech by King Willem-Alexander at the opening of the International Ombudsman Institute World Conference, The Hague
Ms Ramírez Hernández, ladies and gentlemen,
A very warm welcome to The Hague! I feel privileged to be speaking to you today, here in the international city of peace and justice.
You represent ombuds institutions from over 100 countries. And although there may be big differences between your organisations, your mission is the same. The focus of your work is on protecting human rights and promoting good governance.
You help people who run up against problems when dealing with the government. And you help public authorities improve their services.
We have Sweden to thank for the word ‘ombudsman’. A marvellous term that has conquered the world since it first began to spread in the 1960s. It’s one of Sweden’s most successful export products ever. Possibly as well-known as IKEA and Abba.
In the Netherlands, we have had a National Ombudsman since 1982. This role is enshrined in our Constitution.
I believe it’s important to be aware of key developments in the work of this institution. And so I meet with the National Ombudsman on a fairly regular basis. Perhaps as part of a working visit, or an informal background discussion. Or in the context of an international activity, like a state visit.
About eighteen months ago, the Queen and I met with the Greek and Dutch Ombudsmen in Athens. I still remember it well. They have worked together for many years to safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens and migrants.
It was a very insightful discussion. And I saw how important it is for Ombuds institutions to share their knowledge at international level. Of course, that is a key aim of this conference, and that alone makes it highly worthwhile.
You are doing your work in turbulent times.
Wherever in the world we live, we are wrestling with questions that deeply affect our lives. How should we respond to climate change? What role should we entrust to artificial intelligence when it comes to human interaction?
How can we prevent groups of people from retreating into their own bubbles? How can we build greater trust between citizens and government, as fake news and conspiracy theories run rampant?
And how do we ensure that everyone – regardless of their background or income – can participate in an ever-more complex society?
Public authorities are working constantly to develop rules and legislation that offer certainty and guidance in this respect.
The great thing about your work is that you see how those laws impact the lives of citizens in practice. You are allies to people who encounter problems caused by the actions of government. People who are drowning in red tape. Who’ve been sent from pillar to post. Ignored. Shortchanged. Treated unfairly.
And this means you are not simply supporters of citizens in need. You help governments too. Because they can learn from your findings. They can discover their blind spots and then improve their working methods.
You foster a process of continual improvement in our public services. And that’s good for everyone – especially vulnerable people who struggle to make their voices heard.
Of course, you must be able to work independently to do this. And so it’s good to see this principle being consistently reaffirmed within the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
I firmly believe that ombuds institutions can play a key role in boosting public trust in government.
No government is infallible. There will always be mistakes and shortcomings. But your work helps ensure that problems come to light, and errors are rectified.
We can learn from things that go wrong. And by being open about them, we can all move forward together.
So you can be proud of the crucial work you perform in the general public interest.
This conference, with its theme ‘The Value of the Future’ is a perfect opportunity to learn about the experiences of your counterparts, whether they’re based nearby or far away.
Together, you are working to foster sustainable and inclusive societies. I hope that you will find fresh inspiration to take home with you, and I wish you a fantastic conference.
Thank you.