CEE CN site

Increasement of Transparency of the Work
of Local Parliaments in BiH
Duration of the case: 3 years (February 2002 - February 2005)
Prepared by: Dalida Demirović
Centers for Civic Initiatives, Bosnia and Herzegovina
May 2005

Abstract

After many years of work in communities all over BiH, CCI became aware of the great need for increasement of transparency of the work of local parliaments in BiH and for strengthening of the cooperation between citizens and local authorities. The work of the authorities at the local level was closed for the public, the passed decisions were often not implemented, and the councillors have seldom communicated with citizens. In 10 regions of BiH CCI has engaged coordinators who have worked with the local authorities, but also at the same time with the citizens. They were creating a two-way communication at the relation citizens-councillors. The accountability of local authorities has become public and that has altered the former situation when councillors were often ¨hiding¨ behind the parliaments and at the same time representing the interests of their political party and not of the citizens who elected them. CCI staff was present at every session of the 40 parliaments in BiH, informed the citizens, the media and the NGOs about the passed decisions. In time the local NGOs and the local authorities engaged themselves in these activities. A vast number of decisions which ensure the participation of citizens in the work of local authorities have been passed thanks to our initiative. In various ways we have also insisted and constantly reminded the authorities about the obligations regarding the transparency of the work of the authorities which is defined by the law. During the period of three years CCI has made the work of 40 parliaments in BiH transparent but we have also conveyed the responsibility for it to the local authorities and citizens.

read more...