It is responsible for the effective and impartial protection of rights at MU and provides assistance to complainants and victims whose rights have been violated, while also protecting the rights of those against whom complaints are directed.
The University ombudsperson (Ombuds) is JUDr. Eva Janovičová. She acts in accordance with the principles of protection of rights and guarantees impartiality, independence and confidentiality. Reports relating to the protection of rights may take the form of a notice (oznámení), a complaint (stížnost) or a petition (petice). In accordance with MU Directive No. 1/2023, they may be submitted, without limitation, by employees, job applicants, students, university applicants and graduates.
Notices
Individuals report violations of their rights or the rights of others by means of a notice in situations involving the rights of employees and job applicants or the rights of students and university applicants. This may include cases of bullying (including mobbing or bossing), unequal treatment and discrimination, protection of personality, sexual harassment, academic integrity and other situations where the reporting individuals believe that their rights have been violated and that this has affected their studies or work. The notice should include identification of the reporting person, including contact information, a description of the situation reported to the Ombuds, identification of persons already informed of the situation, steps taken to date, and a proposed resolution.
The Ombuds receives and processes such notices, but does not make final decisions concerning the rights and obligations of MU staff and students; she only issues opinions.
The Ombuds will contact the person who submitted the notice and, depending on the nature of the information, will consider what action to take, which will also be discussed with the reporting person. If the content and nature of the notice allows, the Ombuds will resolve the problem amicably through mediation. If the notice is made anonymously, it will only be investigated further if there is sufficient evidence that a serious violation of someone’s rights has actually taken place.
Complaints
Complaints are filed by complainants who seek protection of their rights in a situation where it is clear who is threatening their rights and what the issue is. The complaint should also contain a proposed solution. The term “complaint” also includes a submission directed against improper conduct by officials or against the procedure of an administrative authority under the Czech Code of Administrative Procedure.
Complaints are not handled by the Ombuds; they are processed by the responsible officials, i.e. the head of the MU unit or department within whose remit the complaint falls, according to its nature. If the Ombuds receives a complaint, she refers it to the responsible person.
Petitions
A petition is a submission on matters of public or other common interest that fall within the MU’s remit and is addressed to the MU on a subject relating to the performance of public administration. The petition must meet the requirements set out in the Petitions Act.
Petitions received by the Ombuds are handled by the responsible person.
The Ombuds does not handle requests for information or complaints regarding free access to information, submissions regarding the protection of personal data, or complaints regarding elections to academic self-governing bodies at the level of the University or its individual faculties.
How to contact the Ombuds
The University Ombuds can be contacted by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), via the online contact form on the MU web (Protection of rights), by phone (+420 549 49 5089; +420 771 279 712), via the MU mailroom or by mail “to the attention of the Ombuds” sent to the Masaryk University Rector’s Office at Žerotínovo nám. 9 or via the MUNI databox (9tmj9e4).