“The Verkhovna Rada returns to the Open Parliaments of the World. Ukraine joined the Open Parliament initiative in 2016 and has developed a 20 -step plan for the Council to become more open to citizens.”, – WRITE: www.pravda.com.ua
This movement provided not only the basic components, such as the presence of journalists in the sidelines and the bed of the press or live broadcasts of meetings, but the true dialogue of society and power: reports of deputies, transparent regulations, public emphasis on the agenda and involvement of stakeholders in decision making.
The Movement was one of the drivers of these changes, in particular by developing a platform “Reports of MPs”, fighting the button -making and defending the need for a sensory button.
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Kovid, war and security challenges have led to a part of the initiative. Restrictions on wartime have been going on for more than three years, and they have actually become a new norm.
We have learned to live in closed and secrecy, but it is obvious that we need to change the balance between security requirements and public request. Yes, there is a threat, but it cannot be a tool for collapsing publicity. The war lasts for years, and instead of total prohibitions, the parliament should learn to work in a new reality: to equip shelters, to broadcast meetings, to let journalists.
An argument that does not open the press lodge for journalists, “Because something can fall on the head of the deputy”sounds like a bad joke. But this was said by one of the leaders of Parliament. In addition, we have already heard such arguments in the past convocations during the speaker of the regional of the regional Vladimir Rybak.
In order to change this situation, the people’s deputies have recently created an inter -factional association “for the open parliament”. The initiative was joined by 30 people’s deputies. This is a significant step towards recovering the vector of openness and transparency.
Because openness is not about turnstiles at the entrance or online broadcast. It is about values, the rules of the game, about the right of people to see, hear and influence.
Parliament is not just about laws. It’s about representation and trust. About how the state speaks with its citizens. Now this conversation is reminiscent of a monologue. And often – behind closed doors.
What the open parliament should look like should not be decided by officials in the offices. A wide range of stakeholders should be involved in this process: MPs, journalists, public organizations, experts and other citizens.
That is why the movement honestly initiated the restoration of work on updating the National Action Plan within the Open Government Partnership.
We can return the Parliament to the sphere of public control – through the norm, through a new agenda, through dialogue, not remoteness. Because real safety is not the walls of the council, but the trust of the people in their decisions.
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