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Three areas are important for the political process and public discourse around elections: election campaigns; electoral observation; and the information landscape.
May 2017 saw the arrival in Kyiv of over 300 people from 52 countries interested in parliamentary openness. The Global Legislative Openness Conference was a two-day event, hosted by the Ukrainian Parliament and organised by the Legislative Openness Working Group of the Open Government Partnership and the Open Parliament Initiative in Ukraine. WFD participated through its senior staff from the UK, Sri Lanka and Serbia, and by supporting the presence of parliamentary delegations from Uganda, Kenya, Montenegro, Jordan, Morocco,Ghana and Venezuela.
The COVID-19 pandemic is testing governance systems around the world. Where democratic systems were already straining under the pressure of post-financial crisis populism, this latest crisis is pushing political institutions and norms to breaking point. Emergency measures once thought unthinkable have been quickly designed and enforced, often with little to no public scrutiny or time restrictions. The variation in responses and results has again opened the debate as to the ability of democracies to deliver in moments of crisis.
Through all this, one factor seems to dictate the extent to which governments have been able to respond successfully to the pandemic: political trust.
Through all this, one factor seems to dictate the extent to which governments have been able to respond successfully to the pandemic: political trust.
The past week has been an emotional, as well as a political, roller-coaster across the UK, including inside WFD. On both sides of the debate there has been surprise, concern, anger, and optimism at some point since the voting started on Thursday. There has been an outpouring of perceptive analysis about the result, much of it very relevant to the challenges that WFD tries to help our partners to address, including how important it is for political leaders to listen to all parts of society, and how to manage political campaigns responsibly.
I live in Northern Ireland, a small, charming part of the world that has had some big, devastating problems.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing up to €21,000 per person that leaves the country, according to the new WFD research. Figures from 2018 show that 44,700 people left the country and according to OECD data, the favourite destinations for people from Bosnia and Herzegovina are Germany (54%), Slovenia (26%), and Austria (9%).
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Study |
Civil society organisations (CSOs) are a channel through which citizens can engage with the government constructively to make sure adequate services are provided, helping build more inclusive and accountable democracies. Their role is especially important during the pandemic, as civic freedoms are curtailed and the usual channels of engagement with the government are unavailable.
Albania |
In Albania, as in most other countries in the world, the Covid-19 pandemic posed an unusual health emergency that directly or indirectly affected the wellbeing of the citizens, economy, and other social processes.
Albania | Report |
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, private sector employees are usually underpaid and their employment status is often not regulated enough. Also, their salaries paid in illegal ways meaning they get fewer pension benefits. What is more, employers often violate or deny employees’ labour rights.
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Study |
The declamatory pursuit of gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitution and legal system is evident, yet the inequality between men and women persists in all spheres of society. Women are under-represented in political life, particularly in high-ranking positions and elected offices.
The ability to speak your mind in a public or social matter should not be a privilege. We like to think that getting involved in local or even national politics is an option for those willing to contribute and help improve life in their community. Until recently, however, this was not a possibility within reach for Ljubisha Saveski, a 40-year-old father and fashion designer from Tetovo, North Macedonia.
Despite the outbreak of the war, WFD continues to work with parliament on a range of initiatives, including post-legislative scrutiny, improving support to law drafting, full policy cycle, hybrid and online procedures, and co-operation between parliament and the government. These processes will be essential to Ukraine’s resilience and post-conflict recovery.
WFD supported the reform processes in Uzbekistan through strengthening the capacity of the Oliy Majlis (parliament). The programme sought to compliment the parliament’s existing reform efforts and build on recommendations from our 2019 assessment of parliamentary practice in Uzbekistan.
WFD supported the reform processes in Uzbekistan through strengthening the capacity of the Oliy Majlis (parliament). The programme sought to compliment the parliament’s existing reform efforts and build on recommendations from our 2019 assessment of parliamentary practice in Uzbekistan.
This guide to parliamentary enquiries was produced by the WFD Uzbekistan programme
Uzbekistan | Guide |