|
||||||||||
What's Being Done On . . . Strengthening Local Governance ?
Corporación Centro de Estudios Constitucionales (Plural) - Colombia Contact: plural@cable.net.co The Corporación Centro de Estudios Constitucionales was established by members of the Legislative Committee of the Constituent Assembly of 1991 to conduct studies and educational programs on the Constitution in order to foster a culture of peace, pluralism, democratic participation, and respect for human rights. The group educates municipalities on the justice of the peace tribunal system. Plural also implements activities such as the training of newly elected justices, educating the communities on the benefits of the justice of the peace system, and promoting improved institutional coordination, both nationally and locally, to make justice programs more effective. Plural also works with the mayors of selected municipalities to ensure that the justice of the peace system is included in the local development plan prepared annually by municipal councils, so as to ensure availability of municipal funds and the program's sustainability. Corporación Región (Regional Corporation) - Colombia Contact: admonregion@epm.net.co Corporación Región promotes peace, social justice, sustainable development, democratic participation, and preservation of the environment in Colombia. It has established an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and legal access program that manages three community justice and coexistence centers and trains 200 local justice officials on how to utilize these mechanisms and provide legal assistance to members of the community. GOLOS NGO Coalition - Russia Contact: golos@golos.org The GOLOS NGO Coalition, a network of civic organizations operating in fifteen regions of the Russian Federation, aims to ensure greater government responsiveness to citizens' wishes. GOLOS has been undertaking a program aimed at increasing public awareness of the workings of local government. GOLOS affiliates gather and analyze roll-call votes from the regional legislature; poll deputies; monitor deputies' public reception offices and attendance at parliamentary committee meetings; and track the final outcome of legislation. The results of these analyses are then printed and distributed for free to voters. Haki Za Binadamu (HZB) - Democratic Republic of Congo Contact: omekitoko@aol.com Haki Za Binadamu focuses on human rights monitoring, advocacy, and education. For one of its projects, Haki Za Binadamu supports judicial remedies for human rights violations in the isolated region of Maniema by training judges and judicial personnel on human rights issues. The training includes identifying the role of the judicial system in relation to human rights matters. Haki Za Binadamu also provides material, logistical, and technical support to the Court of Appeals and various local courts, including basic equipment such as typewriters. Following the training session, it accompanies local judges to courts in Punia and Kasongo to observe first-hand the functioning of the court and to identify human rights problems which have resulted from the poor administration of justice. Instituto de Defensa Legal (Institute of Legal Defense) - Peru www.idl.org.pe/ The Instituto de Defensa Legal is dedicated to the defense and promotion of human rights, peace, citizen participation, democratic institutionalization, and rule of law. The Instituto's leadership school conducts training for 100 community leaders in Junín, Huancavelica, and Ayacucho in issues concerning local and regional politics, public management and citizen monitoring of government. After the training seminars, participants conduct citizen campaigns in their own communities to identify local concerns, and mobilizes citizens to develop a common platform and strategy to address them. Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL) - Nigeria www.ihrhl.kabissa.org/ Contact: ihrhl@ihrhl.org The Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRL) works to encourage citizens to develop effective strategies to advocate for change in the Niger Delta region. To further its goal, IHRHL monitors and documents corruption within the legal justice system in Rivers State by organizing local residents to examine and interact with local courts. To demystify the functioning of the court, the Institute organized fifty, one-day community sessions on the functioning of courts and forty, one-day study tours and town meetings with local judicial officials. Asociación Civil Consorcio Justicia-Occidente - Venezuela www.consorciojusticia.org The Asociación Civil Consorcio Justicia-Occidente promotes local justice and conflict resolution through justices of the peace. The Asociación has established a program that works with communities to promote the election of local justices of the peace and to train communities and candidates in conflict resolution and mediation techniques. It has also been working with local governments and communities to improve communication and collaboration at the local level. About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
||||||||||
|
|| || Site map || |
||||||||||
