The public-sector ombudsman is now found at all levels of government in many countries around the world, in both established and new democracies. The ombudsman is an independent office, traditionally appointed by the legislative branch, to investigate poor administration of government. Recently some ombudsman offices have been given responsibilities for human-rights protection.;Compiled by the International Ombudsman Institute, an organization composed of over 130 ombudsman around the world, this yearbook contains articles written from legal- or public-administration perspectives which address issues of interest to the contemporary ombudsman and to all people with an interest in the institution.