FEATURES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE LANGUAGE OMBUDSMAN IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the administrative activity of the institution of the Language Ombudsman in Ukraine. It is noted that the broader the range of mechanisms for the protection of human rights operating in a state, the more human-centered its social order becomes. Based on this, the institution of the ombudsman should be considered as an additional legal instrument within the general system of state bodies designed to ensure the legal protection of citizens. The article emphasizes that the introduction of the institution of specialized ombudsmen (including the Language Ombudsman) is a logical stage in the development of the system of human rights commissioners, as it ensures a more professional and targeted approach to resolving specific problems of particular categories of citizens and increases the overall effectiveness of human rights activities. Attention is drawn to the fact that the legislation of Ukraine clearly defines the limits of the powers of the Language Ombudsman in terms of protecting the state language and safeguarding human rights regarding its use. It is stated that the Language Ombudsman plays an important role in shaping modern language policy and affirming the state language as a mandatory instrument of public communication. The existence of a clearly defined accountability mechanism, including annual reporting to the government and the public, as well as oversight by the Accounting Chamber, creates additional guarantees of transparency and responsibility in the work of the Language Ombudsman. The practice of the functioning of the Language Ombudsman analyzed in the article shows that its effectiveness largely depends on the balance between supervisory functions and the human rights component, as well as on the level of public support and trust. In the article, the author concludes that in Ukraine specialized ombudsmen are officials responsible for protecting the rights of certain groups of the population or specific areas. Formally, they do not constitute separate institutions; however, in practice they perform functions similar to specialized ombudsmen in the European system. A successful example of the functioning of specialized ombudsmen in Ukraine is the institution of the Commissioner for the Protection of the State Language, which has a clear regulatory framework and transparent mechanisms of activity.