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Polismed - 22 oct 2011

Governance and citizens

participation

Teresa Petrangolini

secretary generalActive Citizenship

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Cittadinanzattiva

An Italian citizensorganization started in1978; Defense of citizens

rights and thepromotion of civicparticipation in Italyand in Europe;

Some 90.000members, voluntaries.

More than 30 years ofexperience

Active CitizenshipNetwork (ACN)

A European networkstarted in 2001

Promotes theparticipation ofcitizens organizationsin European andnational public policies

Over 100 partnerorganizations from 30European countries.

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International policies

Promotion of citizens participation inpublic policies and governance systems

Health, transportation, waste, energy andwater delivery, education and schools, etc

Projects for empowerment of active

citizenship to support local civicparticipation

Morocco and Colombia with UNDP

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Why active citizenship Citizens are a fundamental

resource for democracy. They

should play a more active role insociety

Not only voting or paying taxes

Citizenship, individuals andorganizations should bestregthened in their capabilities and

powers to partecipate in everyday

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What means active citizenship

The capacity of citizens to self-organize

autonomously in a variety of ways todefend their rights, exercising powersand responsabilities in public policies forthe caring for common goods

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Common Goods

the common goods describes a specific

"good" that is shared and beneficial forall members of a given community.

Water resources, environment, sociality,

public health, common value, etc

Their protection depends on thebehaviors and responsability of the

community

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An important achievementHorizontal subsidiarity

The state, regions, provinces,municipalities and towns favourautonomous initiative of citizens,

individually and in association, toconduct activities in the general interestbased on the principle of subsidiarity(art. 118, 4, Italian Constitution).

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The main actors of citizensparticipation

Local autorities as promoter of civicinvolvement

Civil society organizations as resources

to gather active citizenship

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Good news

Active citizenship is not only an

abstract idea, but a real event allover the world

Concrete example of citizens

involvement has been promoted inseveral cities, in Med area too

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Good news

Revolutions in North Africa were

leaded by civil society movementsand the average age of participantwas 26 years.

Not only violent upraising but alsoconsciousness about the crucialrole of community leader

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Libyan citizens cover the void of institutions

Libyan people in the opposition-held areas aretaking great initiative to organize themselvesnow that there is a void of Gaddafi

government structure.

They have formed local committees thataddress sectors such as food, water andsanitation, police and security, and othercritical sectors. There are volunteers who aredirecting traffic, tending the public gardens,cleaning the streets and taking on many of thecivil responsibilities necessary to maintain

order in the city

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Something amazing is going on in Egypt.

People are spontaneously coming together, providingand supporting state services. People are escortingambulances, cleaning streets, and maintainingsecurity all as spontaneous volunteers.

New York Times ran an article about a group thatstarted to protect utilities and help alleviate trafficproblems.

The Atlantic ran the video about people comingtogether to clean streets in the wake of protests.

People are organizing to protect cultural institutionfrom looting.

http://handsonblog.org/2011/02/02/volunteerism-breaks-out-in-egypt/?utm_source=Staff%2BTwitter&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=Blog

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Examples of citizens involvement in

local governance

Morocco: constitutional reform based oncentrality of local community and localGovernance.

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local governance: Morocco

Civil society involved in Commission de laparit et de l'galit des chancesand laCharte comunaleto streghten civicparticipation, above all of women andyoung people in every municipality.

Its an on going process. It will be probably successfull for a strong

and wide presence of civil societyorganizations in Morocco.

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local governance

Italy: a long experience of participatory

democracy in many cities, more theoreticalrather than real.

A good news: an article of law (Comma 461,art. 2, L 244/2007) refers to civic participation

in the management of local public services(users consultation, quality assessment,complaints management, etc.)

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Examples of citizens involvement in localgovernance

City of Rome:

3 Municipality: Active citizenship has been

involved on drafting the Service Charterintroducing citizens requirements on theimprovement of Population services,allowance procedures for public area and

kindercartens. 11 Municipality: citizens has been consulted

on planning and management of public park

In each hospital its organized, every two

years, a Civic Audit to assess the quality of

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Examples of citizens involvement in localgovernance

Colombia Cartagena and Pasto:

Citizens (vocales de control) engaged tocheck the quality of local public services, toconfront with companies and municipalitiesin order to improve energy delivering, utility

bills and waste collection. Universities and students are involved in

supporting common citizens in expertise.

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Active citizenship is a necessity Because it strengthens social

cohesion and develops democracy

Because it is a widespreadphenomenon around the world,expecially in contexts of crisis

Because diffusion of information

(eg. social network) supports the

awareness of people

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Active citizenship is a necessity

Because there is a lack of trust in

traditional politics and politicians

Because the institutions needsupport and collaboration from

active citizenship

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Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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