The Ombuds Blog: Senate Bill Would Create DOD Ombuds Office

July 25, 2007

Senate Bill Would Create DOD Ombuds Office

A bill currently being debated on the Senate floor would create a Department of Defense-wide Ombudsman Office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act (S.1606) was attached to the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act and responds to shortcomings identified recently in the treatment of wounded service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other locations. If implemented, the DOD Ombudsman Office would provide guidance to and oversight of ombudsman offices in all military departments. (S. 1283 History and Text; Duluth (GA) Weekly.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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July 25, 2007

Senate Bill Would Create DOD Ombuds Office

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