The Ombudsman
of the Kingdom
of Thailand
25 May 2023
Areas of Discussion
01 Introduction of the Ombudsman of Thailand
02 Organizational Structure and Functions
03 Complaint Handling Process
04 Networks and International Affairs
04
05 The Office of the Ombudsman Goes Digital
01
Introduction of the
Ombudsman of Thailand
Who is Ombudsman of Thailand
Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 2017
Section 228 and 229
❖ There shall be three Ombudsmen appointed by the
King upon the advice of the Senate from person
selected by the selection committee
❖ An Ombudsman shall hold office for a term of seven
years as from the date of appointment by the King
❖ And shall serve for only one term
The Ombudsmen must be…
Persons with evident integrity and with knowledge
and expertise
Two of whom shall have experience related to the
administration of State affairs in the position not
lower than a Director-General or an equivalent head
of the government agency, they must hold such
position for a period of not less than five years
One of whom shall have experience in the operation of a
public undertaking for a period of not less than twenty
years
Thailand Ombudsmen
Mr. Somsak Suwansujarit Assoc. Prof. Issaree Hunsacharoonroj Mr. Songsak Saicheua
Chief Ombudsman Ombudsman Ombudsman
Mandate and
Jurisdiction
Mandate and Jurisdiction
The Ombudsman has authority over the
executive branch of government including
central government agencies, local
administrative organizations, State
enterprises, public organizations, and State
officials
Mandate and Jurisdiction
Prohibited from accepting:
- policy by the Council of Ministers
- matter which has been filed to the Court
- matter which is not under the duties and powers of OMT
- matter which is under duties and powers of other independent
organizations
- complaint submitted with bad faith / not beneficial to the public
- complainant received a proper redress or fairness
- OMT has had conclusion
Mandate and Jurisdiction
The matter has already been Refer to relevant State agency
provided by the law on
complaints or appeals
The case concerns a personnel Refer to authorized person regarding
administration or disciplinary personnel administration or
action by a State official disciplinary
The case involves a corruption Refer to the National Anti-Corruption
Commission / the State Audit
Commission
The case related to the human Refer to the National Human Right
rights violation Commission
Duties and
Powers
Duties and Powers of the Ombudsman
Recommend the State agencies to revise
01
law / rule / order / operative procedure
02 Conduct fact-finding
03 Submit to Council of Ministers:
04 State agency
03 not complied with Chapter V of Constitution
Duties and Powers of the Ombudsman
04
The Ombudsman may refer a matter to the Constitutional
Court or the Administrative Court as follows:
(1) Where any provision of law begs the question of
constitutionality, the matter shall be referred
together with opinion to the Constitutional Court
(2) Where a rule, order or any other act of a State agency
or a State officials begs the question of
03 04
constitutionality or legality, the matter shall be
referred together with an opinion to the
Administrative Court
02
Organizational Structure
and Functions
Chief Ombudsman and Ombudsmen
Office of the Ombudsman Internal
Secretary-General Audit
Deputy Deputy Deputy Deputy
Secretary-General Secretary-General Secretary-General Secretary-General
Central Intake and Early Investigation Bureau
Legal Affairs and
Administration Resolution Bureau 2
Ligitigation Bureau
Bureau
Human Resource Investigation Bureau Investigation Bureau Duties of the State
Management Bureau 4 1 Inspection Bureau
Corporte
International Affairs Communication and Investigation Bureau Policy and Planning
Bureau Public Relations 3 Bureau
Bureau
Ombudsman and Information and Institute of
Secretary-General Networks and Public Communication
Participation Bureau Ombudsman Studies
Affairs Bureau Technology Bureau
Functions of
Ombudsman
Office
Legal Affairs and finding facts, submitting cases to the Constitutional
Ligitigation Bureau Court or Administrative Court, as well as analyzing
laws and legal work
Intake and Early conducting the intake of complaints, identifying
Resolution Bureau and analyzing issues and providing appropriate
referral information for complaints, which lie
outside of the Ombudsman’s mandate
Investigation Bureau gathering evidence and preparing recommendations
1–3 to be presented to the Ombudsman for decision-
making. It also monitors and reports on the
outcomes of the Ombudsman's rulings, as well as
performs other duties as stipulated by law
Investigation Bureau important, urgent, and complex cases involving
4 multiple agencies. It is also assigned special cases by
the Ombudsman and the Office of the Ombudsman.
Additionally, it carries out follow-up tasks and
reports on the results of the Ombudsman's
decisions, as well as other matters as defined by
legislation
Duties of the State inspections on law enforcement authorities to ensure
Inspection Bureau their compliance with Chapter V Duties stipulated in
the Constitution. In the case that a State agency fails
to meet these obligations, the Ombudsman is
responsible for preparing a report with
recommendations to be submitted to the Council of
Ministers.
Networks and Public educating the public on their rights and freedoms,
Participation Bureau the duties and powers of the Good Governance
Ombudsman, as well as establishing and promoting
networks to ensure compliance with these principles.
International Affairs fostering international relations, managing
Bureau diplomatic affairs, conducting international research
and facilitating other foreign affairs related work.
Information and system development, implementation and
Communication maintenance of information technology and
Technology Bureau communication systems of the Office.
Institute of conducting academic research, providing academic
Ombudsman Studies services, and promoting the dissemination of
knowledge through the preparation of annual
Ombudsman reports, as well as overseeing the
management of archives, libraries, and the
Ombudsman Museum.
03
Complaint Handling
Process
Who can complain?
Thai citizens and foreigners, who consider they
are affected by cases of mal-administration from
government departments and public
organisations are eligible to exercise their civil
rights by submitting complaints to the Office of
the Ombudsman.
SUBMIT A LETTER OF COMPLAINT WITH
What should FOLLOWING DETAILS
be in the Real name and address of the
complainant
complaints? Specify the grounds and relevant
circumstances
Reasons and details of
Complained Agency
complaint caused by
the government agency Complainants have to avoid
and State officials inflammatory language
Signature of the complainants
Methods of Delivering Complaints
Walk-in Fax
01 Post
02 Telephone
Mobile Application
Official Line
03 (@OMBUDSMAN)
04 (Office of the Ombudsman
Thailand)
Examples of Best Practices
01 The management of lunch program for primary schooling
and pre-schooling students
Recommendations about mother’s rights in taking folic acid
02 (vitamin B9) supplements during pregnant and postpartum
periods.
03
Vocational Upskilling Program for Students who do not
continue their studies after the compulsory graduation
04
Networks and
International Affairs
National Level
Networks
Office of the Ombudsman has
signed MOU with several
public infrastructure entities
and organizations to address
specific areas of challenges
International
Affairs
Multilateral Cooperation
IOI
International Ombudsman Institute
AOA
Asian Ombudsman Association
SEAOF
Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum
Bilateral Cooperation
01 The Republic of
Uzbekistan for Human
Rights (Ombudsman)
The Anti-Corruption and
02 Civil Rights Commission
of the Republic of Korea
(ACRC)
Bilateral Cooperation
03 The National Commission
of Supervision of the
People’s Republic of
China (NCS)
04 Ombudsman of the
Republic of Indonesia
(ORI)
Bilateral Cooperation
05 Ministry of International
Affairs and Communications
Japan – Administrative
Evaluation Bureau (AEB)
06 Ombudsman of the
Republic of the
Philippines (OMB PH)
Bilateral Cooperation
07 Ombudsman Western
Australia
08 National Ombudsman
New Zealand
Bilateral Cooperation
Ombudsman for Human
09 Rights and Justice of
Timor-Leste (PDHJ)
05
The Office of the
Ombudsman Goes Digital
Master Plan for 20-year Country Development of
Digitality for Economy and Society
01 Develop countrywide
04
Transform the public sector
high-efficiency digital into a digital government
infrastructure
Develop workforce for the
02 Drive the economy with 05 age of digital economy and
digital technology society
04
Build an equitable and
06
Build trust and confidence
03 inclusive society through in the use of digital
technology
digital technology
OMT goes Digital
01 The Office Automation System (OA)
02 Complaint and Investigation Management (CIM)
03 Data Exchange Center (DXC)
04 Public Service System
Thank You
