ABA fosters better understanding of role of ombuds in day of national education

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution is joining a variety of law and other organizations on Thursday, October 14, to spotlight the role an ombuds, historically known as an ombudsman, can play in reducing tensions in disputes and developing long-term solutions.

National Ombuds Day: “Ombuds: Exploring Options to Resolve Conflict Together,” will take place online Thursday, October 14, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The primary goal of Ombuds Day is to improve public awareness of those who serve as ombuds and to educate the public about their role; explain the wide variety of services that ombuds provide; encourage greater use of ombuds programs and services; and highlight the value ombuds bring to the institutions and constituents they serve. The concept dates to 1809, when Sweden appointed an independent official known as an ombudsman to investigate complaints against government officials and agencies.

In 2018, the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution declared the second Thursday of October Ombuds Day. The goal of this annual recognition is to increase awareness and improve the understanding of the ombuds profession.

The event is intended for ombuds and leaders from the tech, immigration, K-12 education and long-term care sectors to understand how ombuds help stakeholders resolve problems. But all are welcome. While the ABA program is structured around the lunch hour on the East Coast, other events nationwide are planned for other times during the day.

A toolkit to assist in developing current and future Ombuds Day programs, as well as events nationwide, can be found at https://abaombudsday.wordpress.com/events-webinars.

To register for the ABA “Ombuds: Exploring Options to Resolve Conflict Together” program online, visit https://ambar.org/ombuds2021.