The ombudsmen adopt a resolution on the right to make mistakes
On Wednesday, March 18, Marc BERTRAND, Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and Chairman of Ombudsman.be, the Belgian network of ombudsmen, presented the resolution adopted by all members of the network to the press. The same resolution was addressed to all parliaments and governments of the country. The Belgian network of ombudspersons, ombudsman.be for short, to which the ombudsperson of the German-speaking Community belongs, recommends that politicians enshrine the 'right to make mistakes' in law.
For a fairer administration: on the way to legal recognition of the right to make mistakes.
Given the increasing complexity of administrative procedures, mistakes can easily happen. The right to make mistakes, which is already enshrined in law in France and the Netherlands, was adopted by the Belgian Senate in 2021 and has now been included in several recent intergovernmental agreements.
This principle is based on a simple idea: trusting citizens, considering them to be acting in good faith and giving them the opportunity to correct a mistake without fear of immediate sanctions. It is a transformation of administrative practices towards a more benevolent and pedagogical approach that promotes a relationship of trust between citizens and the administration.
A legal framework for a more humane administration
Including the right to make mistakes in legislation would give citizens the opportunity to correct a mistake without risking arbitrary sanctions. It would also provide certainty to civil servants by giving them a clear framework for considering such corrections. This principle does not call into question the fight against fraud, but distinguishes between errors made in good faith and fraudulent behavior.
The recommendations of Ombudsman.be, the Belgian network of ombudsmen.
Ombudsman.be proposes several essential elements for the implementation of the right to error:
Giving the citizen the opportunity to correct an error within a reasonable period of time.
Insist on the good faith of the citizen and exclude fraud.
Clarify the role of administrations in assisting citizens.
Towards a more accessible administration
Adopting the right to make mistakes would strengthen trust between citizens and the state while ensuring fairer and more transparent administrative procedures. This principle represents a major step forward towards a more humane administration that respects citizens' rights.
veröffentlicht: 19.03.2025