The article is devoted to the study of global and domestic trends in the specialization of the Commissioner in the field of environmental rights protection, as well as the necessity and possibility of implementing this institutional mechanism for the protection of environmental rights in Ukraine.
In the article, the author studies foreign experience in the creation and functioning of the ombudsman institution in the ecological sphere, and considers the positions of scholars regarding the prospects for introducing a corresponding position in Ukraine.
The legal and practical aspects of the activities of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in the field of environmental protection, use of natural resources, and ensuring environmental safety are also investigated, in particular effectiveness of activities in the area of economic, social and cultural rights, which includes environmental issues, including the protection of environmental rights.
In Ukraine, in addition to the parliamentary commissioner, who has his own representatives, there are other commissioners. Accordingly, the specifics of the legal status of the Advisor to the President of Ukraine, the Advisor-Commissioner of the President, and the Commissioner of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine were analyzed.
The introduction of the institution of an ombudsman specializing in the protection of the environmental rights of citizens and the environment in Ukraine is an opportunity to expand and strengthen institutional mechanisms for protection in the field of environmental protection, the use of natural resources, and ensuring environmental safety. It is important that such a specialized institution has a legal basis that clearly defines the scope of activity, tasks, powers, requirements for a candidate for the position, restrictions on appointment to the position, the procedure for appointment to the position and dismissal from the position, the procedure for organizational support of the activity, etc. To ensure that this institution is not a mere formality, but an effective tool for protecting environmental rights, it is necessary to ensure that information about the results of its work is posted on a special website.
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