Deputy Ombudswoman Dijana Kesonja participated on 23 July 2024 in Zadar at the Summer School organized for the 24th consecutive year by ELSA Zagreb – the European Law Students’ Association.

Deputy Kesonja was invited to give a lecture on the topic “Protection of Workers’ Rights with a Focus on the Right to Work.” She presented the role and competences of the Office of the Ombudswoman in this field, with particular emphasis on two of the institution’s five mandates. These include the mandate of the central body for combating discrimination, especially in the area of labour and employment, and the mandate of the external whistleblowing authority, in the context of protecting so-called whistleblowers who report irregularities encountered in their work environment.

She also spoke in more detail about the protection of the rights of foreign workers, illustrating the reasons for which they file complaints with the Ombudswoman, and addressed the regulation of work through digital platforms (for delivery, transportation, and similar services), where foreign workers are often employed.

This year’s Summer School focused on Human Rights and Globalisation, and brought together around 30 future legal professionals from various universities across Europe.