Mapping the Communication Channels in the General Ombudsman Offices of State Capitals in Brazil

In Brazil, citizens have rights and duties provided by laws, statutes, and principles, and organized cities have authorities responsible for governing in line with society’s interests. However, achieving meaningful citizen participation is a complex process, requiring authorities to constantly create mechanisms to increase engagement. Various communication channels are available for citizens to report problems and evaluate public governance, including telephone, in-person interactions, e-mail, and websites. Citizens, being aware of the needs and issues in their neighborhoods, are the appropriate agents to evaluate public governance. The availability of appropriate Communication Channels for citizen participation is crucial. Our work evaluates the General Ombudsman Offices in the 26 state capitals and Federal District of the Brazilian Government, considering the information available on each municipal government’s website. The results provide an overview of the regulatory environment, offering a state-of-the-art assessment of municipal ombudsman services and examining citizen participation.