Institutional and Functional Dimensions of the General Inspection Organization of Iran and the Ombudsman in Safeguarding Public Rights

According to Article 174 of the Constitution, the General Inspection Organization of Iran (GIO) is one of the most important supervisory institutions in the country, entrusted with safeguarding public rights and overseeing the proper implementation of laws. In other legal systems, a similar role is performed independently by an institution known as the “Ombudsman.” This study, using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on library sources, seeks to answer the question of whether the capacities and powers of the GIO in protecting public rights are equivalent to those of advanced Ombudsman institutions. The findings indicate that while both institutions share common objectives such as combating corruption, promoting transparency, and protecting public rights, differences and weaknesses in key indicators—such as financial and structural independence, enforceability, transparency, scope of jurisdiction, nature of supervision, and international standing—have resulted in the GIO being less effective compared to the Ombudsman, thereby making the latter superior in practice. Accordingly, this research, in addition to addressing the key indicators of public rights protection, offers recommendations for strengthening the effectiveness of the GIO through enhancing independence, expanding jurisdiction, improving international standing, and reinforcing transparency and enforceability. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌