|
The overall objective was to contribute to the development of
parliaments in the region with the best sources of international
assistance and experience. In general terms, the Workshop was designed
to build capacity of parliaments to fulfill effectively its'
Representative function, to strengthen their knowledge, skills and
improve practice, resulting in their increased impact on the political,
social and economic situation of their respective countries, and the
region as a whole.
Special attention was paid to transfer of experience and best
practice from Czech Republic and other Central European countries to
emerging democracies.
The purpose of the entire project is to assist parliaments to evolve
into a co-equal, independent and well-managed bodies, accountable and
appreciated by the citizens, which they represent. Assistance is
directed to parliaments directly to increase their internal
institutional capacities to more professionally and effectively exercise
their constitutional role.
The secondary objective is to stimulate sub-regional cooperation
between politician within the region.
Additional goal of the Workshop was to introduce and familiarize UNDP
country office programme staff dealing with national legislatures with
key issues of parliamentary representation which can be addressed in
country level programmes/projects, and to stimilate networking and
learning across regions and connect a diverse group of UNDP
practitioners and outside specialists around common issues/concerns.
This Workshop was the fourth one within the framework of the
sub-regional parliamentary initiative. The previous three were held in
Bratislava (December 2001), in Prague (June 2002) and in Brno (December
2002).
Programme of the Workshop consisted of six sessions - the opening
session and six sessions:
Session I: Updates from Participating Countries;
Session II: The Basics of Constituency Relations;
Session III: Individual-member Constituent Services;
Session IV: Party-based Constituent Outreach;
Session V: Communications Strategy and Constituency Relations;
Session VI: International Cooperation for Strengthening Constituency
Relations.
The Workshop started with the welcoming addresses Ms. Sandra Pralong,
Communications Advisor, on behalf of Mr. Ben Slay, Director, UNDP RSC/RBEC,
Bratislava. Afterwards Mr. Sergei Sirotkin continued with the
Introduction and objective of the Workshop and Review of the Agenda.
During the reception on Wednesday evening the participants were welcomed
by Mr. Edvard Outrata, Senator of the Czech Parliament.
Workshop's sessions were composed of presentations of international
experts, case studies from the Czech Republic, presentations of the
situation in participating countries and discussions.
|
