The Public Defender of Rights is an independent body of the Slovak Republic, whose position and competences are specified by the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and the Act No. 564/2001 Col. of Laws, on Public Defender of Rights, as amended. Currently, JUDr. Martina Rosinová execises the function.

According to Art.  151a sect. 1 of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, the Public Defender of Rights is an independent body which in the scope and in manner laid down by a law protects the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons and legal entities in the proceedings before public administration bodies and other public bodies, if activities, decision making or inactivity of the bodies are inconsistent with legal order. In cases laid down by a law the public defender of rights can participate in calling the persons acting in public bodies to responsibility, if the persons have violated fundamental right or freedom of natural persons and legal entities. All public power bodies shall provide the Public Defender of Rights with needed co-action.

Scope and manner, in which the Public Defender of Rights as independent body participates in protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons and legal entities, as well as details of the election and the recall of the Public Defender of Rights, his competence, the conditions of performance of his function, the manner of legal protection and enforcement of rights of natural persons and legal entities are specified by the Act on Public Defender of Rights.

Fundamental rights and freedoms, in protection of which the Public Defender of Rights participates, are established in the Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic and in the international treaties and agreements ratified and promulgated in the way laid down by a law.

Anybody who believes that his fundamental rights and freedoms were infringed contrary to the legal order or principles of the democratic state and the rule of law in relation to the activities, decision-making or inactivity of a public administration body can turn to the Public Defender of Rights with a complaint. The Public Defender of Rights may also investigate ex officio.