The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting anyone who wishes to inquire about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in SOS Children's Villages programmes and services. The Ombuds Office approach is child-centered, participatory, and 'ground-up', meaning that it addapts the model to each national context and seeks local solutions to local challenges.

 

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who listens, supports, and guides children, young people, and concerned adults towards solutions. Each Ombuds follows four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality,  Independence and Informality. Ombuds work independently of SOS Children’s Villages with the goal of finding solutions to the concerns raised. There are National, Regional, and Global Ombuds.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who listens, supports, and guides children, young people, and concerned adults towards solutions.

There are National, Regional, and Global Ombuds.

All Ombuds are governed by four principles:

  • Confidentiality – What you share will not be shared with anyone else unless you give permission to share it with others, or you or someone you know is at risk of harm from others or to themselves.
  • Independence – The Ombuds is independent of SOS Children’s Villages and does not report to anyone within the organisation.
  • Impartiality – The Ombuds treats everyone equally.
  • Informality – The Ombuds works through informal relationships. They are here to help children and young people.

The Ombuds is there to listen to children and adults who have a concern about a child or young person who is (or was) in SOS Children's Villages programmes and services. Concerns can include issues like:

  • Emotional, physical, sexual abuse
  • Neglect
  • Exploitation
  • Harassment
  • Bullying
  • Discrimination
  • Abuse by another child or young person

Children and young people in SOS Children’s Villages programmes and services, now or in the past, can contact the National Ombuds in their country. At the moment only a few countries have an Ombuds, but more  are on the way (see "Where we work").

Once in place, the National Ombuds can be contacted by:

  • Email
  • Phone
  • WhatsApp
  • In person, when they visit

Click here to contact us.

Ombuds Office news

Find the latest news from the Ombuds Office here.