The 13^th International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (ICOAF) highlighted the crucial role of ombuds institutions in enhancing the operational effectiveness of armed forces by upholding individual rights and improving governance within the defense sector. As the military's responsibilities expanded after World War II to include peace support operations and assistance to civilian authorities during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the complexity of their operational effectiveness increased.

Challenges related to legality, accountability, and ethics, governed by international humanitarian and human rights law, constrained this effectiveness. Ombuds institutions played a key role in ensuring compliance with these standards and collaborating with military courts to hold violators accountable. They also worked to eradicate informal practices such as bullying and hazing, which can undermine soldiers' well-being and the military's reputation. The conference provided a platform to explore the positive contributions of ombuds institutions to the armed forces' operational success.