The draft Manual on how to draft a special report – practical brief for Ombudsman was discussed on 14 December 2018 in Sarajevo in the presence of the staff members of the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman (IHRO) and the Council of Europe consultants.

The draft Manual provides an elaboration on why special reports are needed, give guidelines on how to draft special reports in relation to structure and language, provide and advice on how to collect data for a special report and offer a template for a special report. In addition it also includes recommendations on dissemination and promotion of a special report as well as guidance on how to follow up the implementation of a special report. The special reports are the strongest policy tool of the Ombudsman since they address systemic issues and, epitomizes policy priorities of the Ombudsman by targeting a significant issue in a precise manner.

Therefore the aim of the Manual is to assists the Ombudsman Office in delivering special reports Office in delivering special reports by going step by step through their making. It proposes innovative structure and direct writing style, aiming at maximal focus and impact. It promotes goal-oriented and user-friendly reporting. Rethinking good practices from ombudsman offices, recalling experiences from numerous trainings and drawing from similar efforts of academics and practitioners to enhance report-making was all used to write this paper. The results of the discussion will be considered in the finalisation of the Manual.

The draft Manual was presented within the action: “Strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman to fight discrimination”, which is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a part of the programme “Horizontal Facility for Western Balkans and Turkey” funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by the Council of Europe.