2.2.3. Oversight Institutions

Table of contents

2.2.3. Oversight Institutions

The Public Ministry is exercised mainly by the Office of the Inspector General (Procuraduría General de la Nación, PGN), as well as the Office of the Ombudsperson (Defensor del Pueblo) and Municipal Ombudspersons (Personerías Municipales).76 The PGN carries out investigations against public servants and civilians managing state resources.77 The PGN has competency over the jurisdictions of administrative litigation, constitutional, the Higher Council of the Judiciary, administrative authorities, police authorities, and in different areas, including penal, penal military, civil, environmental, agrarian, family, and labour.78

The Office of the Ombudsperson is the entity responsible for 'defending, promoting, and protecting human rights, guarantees and freedoms of the inhabitants of the national territory and of Colombians residing abroad, against illegal, unjust, unreasonable, negligent or arbitrary acts, threats or actions by any authority or private individuals'.79 The Office of the Ombudsperson receives complaints regarding the violation of human rights and humanitarian international law by state officials, and advocates before competent authorities for a proper investigation into these violations.80 For additional information, see Section 5.3 on the Office of the Ombudsperson.

Municipal Ombudspersons act as the Public Ministry at the municipal level, advocating for the promotion and protection of human rights and the public interest, and the oversight of municipal public servants.81 Municipal Ombudspersons receive complaints regarding the violation of political or civil rights and social guarantees, and advocate before competent authorities for a proper investigation into these violations.82

The Office of the Comptroller General (Contraloría General de la República, CGR), is the 'highest fiscal control body of the State. As such, its mission is to ensure the proper use of public resources and assets and to contribute to the modernization of the State'.83

  • 76

    Colombia, Constitución Política de Colombia, 1991, url, Art. 118

  • 77

    Colombia, PGN, Objetivos y Funciones, n.d., url

  • 78

    Colombia, PGN, Objetivos y Funciones, n.d., url

  • 79

    Colombia, Defensoría del Pueblo, Conoce nuestra entidad, n.d., url

  • 80

    Colombia, Defensoría del Pueblo, Portafolio de Servicios y Procedimientos Administrativos (OPAS), Versión 4 – 2024, 2024, url, p. 6

  • 81

    Colombia, Función Pública, ABC del Personero Municipal, n.d., url, p. 3

  • 82

    Colombia, Función Pública, ABC del Personero Municipal, n.d., url, p. 3

  • 83

    Colombia, Ministerio del Interior, Contraloría General de la República, n.d., url