SECTION 367

(1) A public independent conciliator is hereby established in the special status of the North-West and South-West Regions. (2) As an independent regional authority, the Public Independent Conciliator shall be a highly experienced personality with reputed integrity and proven objectivity. (3) The Public Independent Conciliator in the North-West and South-West Regions shall be responsible for: – examining and amicably settling disputes between users and regional and council administrations; – defending and protecting rights and freedoms with regard to the relationship between citizens and the region or the councils thereof; – designing and implementing measures to prevent and combat direct or indirect discrimination that may affect users of regional or council services; – ensuring that persons serving in the regional or council administration comply with their ethical obligations; – conducting any investigation on the functioning of regional and council public services, at the request of 5 (five) parliamentarians or 5 (five) regional councillors; – preparing a report on the functioning of regional and council services.