Report of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report 2010 to the 650th meeting of the OSCE's Forum for Security Co-Operation

29 June 2011

Ambassador Eoin O'Leary, Irelands Ambassador to the OSCE, today drew attention to the recent publication of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Annual Report, 2010 to the 650th meeting of the OSCE's Forum for Security Co-Operation. Informing the Forum of the functions and operation of ODF, Ambassador O'Leary cited Ireland’s obligations under the OSCE’s Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, in particular paragraphs 32 and 33 regarding fundamental freedoms of defence forces personnel, and their legal and administrative protection.
The Ambassador also noted the contribution of the Ombudsman to the International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for Armed Forces, and to the drawing up of the Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel produced by the ODIHR in co-operation with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces