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What's Being Done On . . .
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Transparency and Accountability in Legislative and Governmental Institutions Corporate Governance Political Finance Access to Information Links to Other Resources 
Interview with Ernesto Villanueva, president of the Steering Committee of Libertad de Información-México A.C., and participant in the World Movement World Movement Participants Database - Search for more information about groups working on transparency and accountability. |
Projects and organizations, listed by region and country, are presented as illustrative examples that democracy activists, practitioners, and educators might consider as they develop their own initiatives. Africa
Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law - Nigeria
www.ihrhl.kabissa.org
The Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL), based in Port Harcourt, conducts a wide array of programs to restore the rule of law and promote democracy among local communities within Nigeria. IHRHL holds 25 Judicial Culture Educational Fora, which offer ordinary Nigerians, including those from remote rural regions, an opportunity to tour the courts, meet and talk with judges and magistrates, demystify the judicial process, and enable greater monitoring and accountability of the courts. 500 students are being trained by IHRHL on "community law," exposing the problems created by poverty and environmental hazards, and solving these with alternative resolution techniques. These students are then deployed to one of IHRHL's 25 Community Legal Advice Centers so that information and advocacy can reach as many people as possible in an effort to enforce accountability by building cooperation among court officials, the police, state and local legislators, and community members. This campaign strengthens a movement to create awareness about corruption, expose its spread, call for its eradication, and advocate various anti-corruption strategies.
Social and Economic Rights Action Center - Nigeria
Contact: serac@linkserve.com.ng
The Lagos-based Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) focuses on monitoring a range of human rights issues relating to the mobilization of local community members to understand and defend their rights as citizens in Nigeria. SERAC has developed a legislative accountability program based on research, education, and advocacy with the goal of helping bridge the divide between elected officials and marginalized communities during Nigeria's transition period. SERAC seeks to strengthen government accountability through educating federal and state legislatures on human rights issues, promoting dialogue between legislators and ordinary citizens, and identifying legal and resource impediments to the implementation of laws promoting human rights. SERAC recently held a summit highlighting the connection between resource allocation by the government and human rights conditions throughout the country.
Asia - Pacific
National Centre for Development Studies - Australia
apseg.anu.edu.au/ncds.php
Centre for Democratic Institutions - Australia
www.cdi.anu.edu.au/asia_pacific/Pacific_Corruption_Anti-Corruption_Sept03.htm
The Australian National Centre for Development Studies, in cooperation with the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Centre for Democratic Institutions, held its sixth annual Corruption and Anti-Corruption course on August 25 - September 12, 2003. The objective of the course was to develop an understanding of the relationship between corruption, liberalization, and good governance. Different types of corruption were examined and practical strategies for investigation and prevention were developed. Officers from ombudsmen offices in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu were among participants in the course, and they developed project proposals that can be implemented by their own institutions.
Center for Social Development - Cambodia
www.online.com.kh/users/csd
The Center for Social Development (CSD) is a nongovernmental organization that seeks to promote democratic values, accountability, and transparency, and to improve the quality of life of the Cambodian people, through practical research, training, advocacy, and public debate. On accountability and transparency, CSD conducts several projects. First, it has initiated the Parliamentary Watch project, which aims to serve as a legislative watchdog and to provide citizens with unbiased reports on the work of elected representatives. Second, a Transparency Task Force has been formed to develop an anti-corruption curriculum for school teachers. Third, CSD conducts national surveys on public attitudes towards corruption, and publishes the results.
Central and Eastern Europe
Albanian Institute for International Studies - Albania
www.aiis-albania.org
The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental think tank based in Tirana dedicated to the formulation of practical policy recommendations in the fields of politics, national security, local government, decentralization, civil society development, and conflict resolution. AIIS conducts a research and advocacy program that encourages greater accountability and transparency of local governments in Albania by increasing citizens' involvement in the decision-making processes in their communities. The centerpiece of the project is the development of a paper, with direct input from civil society and local officials, identifying the challenges facing communities in improving democratic structures. AIIS distributes the findings to key policy-making communities - including the Parliament, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Mayors Association.
Centre for Parliamentary Studies (formerly Albanian Study Center on Parliamentary and Democratic Practices) - Albania
Contact: berberiscpdp@albaniaonline.net
The Centre for Parliamentary Studies is an independent, nongovernmental think tank based in Tirana since 1999. The Centre is dedicated to enhancing democratic practices of Albania's Parliament through research and unbiased reporting on the country's legislative process. It publishes its journal, the Review of Parliamentary Law and Politics, which documents and analyzes the work of the National Assembly, in particular the process of drafting, amending, and adopting legislation. The journal is published eight times a year and runs 1,000 copies per issue. It is distributed to key government officials, political party headquarters, non-governmental and international organizations. The project encourages public debate on issues being introduced in the Parliament. This helps to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency of Albania's legislature.
International Foundation for Election Systems - Bosnia and Herzegovina
www.ifes.org
Contact: Dana Beegun, dbeegun@ifes.org
As part of its anti-corruption programming in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), IFES is assisting the BiH Election Commission (ECBiH) with implementation of the Law on Conflict of Interest in Governmental Institutions, adopted in November 2002. This legislation expands the mandate of the ECBiH beyond the conduct of elections to include enforcement of the new law. This law governs special obligations of election officials, executive office holders and advisors in the intuitions of government of BiH in exercising their duties. According to the law, a conflict of interest is created in the event that an elected official, executive office holder and advisor has a private interest that affects or may affect the legality, transparency, objectivity and impartiality as to the exercise of the public duty. The law identifies the ECBiH as the enforcement agency responsible for its implementation and requires the Commission to establish and maintain a register and to define procedures and forms for reporting and disclosure. The law also directs the Commission to investigate, decide cases, and impose sanctions where violations occur. In cooperation with the ECBiH, programming will increase transparency and accountability of elected and appointed officials.
Freedom House Budapest Regional Office - Hungary
Contact: fh@freedomhouse.hu
Freedom House's Budapest Regional Office, in collaboration with Romanian Academic Society, Access to Information Program in Bulgaria, the Center for Policy Studies and the Committee for Lawyers for Human Rights, both in Serbia, works to bring transparency to Serbia through a coalition of regional NGOs throughout Central and East Europe. Started in late 2001, the project aimed to raise awareness of the importance of good governance and transparency in the Serbian society and to encourage the Serbian Government and the parliamentary opposition to overcome divisions and cooperate in adopting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Using Romanian and Bulgaria experience, the network of the Balkans organizations has drafted a FOIA and circulated it among governments and NGOs in Serbia and other CEE countries in order to solicit recommendations. In the meantime, Serbian organizations have been trained in survey methodologies on accountability in the government and other public institutions. They have also been mobilized and trained to conduct a public lobby campaign for the adaptation of the FOIA. In addition, Freedom House's Balkan Best Practice Program has developed an Accountability Index for Serbia, a study of transparency in the Serbian public sector.
Center for Democratic Transition - Montenegro
Contact: cdfmn@cg.yu
The Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), based in Podgorica, works towards promoting parliamentary transparency through a variety of activities, including: monitoring elections, educating citizens on the importance of participating in elections, and raising the level of public awareness about the electoral process in Montenegro. Most recently, CDT has launched a civic education and parliamentary monitoring program, which enables citizens to become more familiar with the work of their national Parliament and local municipal councils. The program includes small town hall meetings involving citizens and local government representatives. Citizens attending the meetings are provided with information about major bills being discussed in the Parliament, their elected representatives, and how a bill becomes law. The program helps to increase citizens' confidence in the legislative process while providing incentives for elected officials to work more closely with their constituencies.
Otpor (Resistance) People's Movement - Serbia
www.otpor.com
Otpor is a non-partisan, nationwide civic movement based in Serbia and founded in 1998. The movement is at the forefront of the struggle for political and economic reform, governmental accountability, an open university system, and the democratization of Serbian society. Otpor maintains 40 offices throughout Serbia in an effort to strengthen a nationwide movement for political and economic reform. OPTOR promotes Serbia's integration into the European mainstream by encouraging the passage of laws in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and market economy. Its activities include efforts to increase civic activism in combating corruption at the local and national level and a monitoring campaign to encourage authorities to tackle corruption through the passage of new legislation and better implementation of existing laws.
Transparency International Slovakia/Center for Economic Development - Slovakia
www.transparency.sk/english/about.htm
Transparency International Slovakia (TIS) is a division of the Center for Economic Development (CED), an independent, nonpartisan NGO, which has been focusing on issues of transparency, corruption, and bribery in Slovakia since 1998. TIS conducts a program to combat corruption at the regional level in Slovakia by carrying out a survey on localized corruption; organizing seminars on local corruption issues; and identifying and disseminating information on the causes, sources, and impact of corruption on the local level. TIS has recently produced a blueprint for reform and is advocating for the systematic changes necessary to fight corruption. It also publishes a monthly newsletter, Pod Lupou. TIS led a successful campaign to get the freedom of information act adopted by the Parliament in 2000.
Latin America
Associación por los Derechos Civiles (Association for Civil Rights) - Argentina
Contact: Roberto Saba, Executive Director, rsaba@adc.org.ar
The Associación por los Derechos Civiles (ADC) is a civil society organization that aims to promote and defend respect for fundamental human rights by introducing cases of human rights abuses to local and federal courts. In order to address a high level of mistrust of the national legislature and its members, ADC conducts a program to deepen civil society's understanding of the way that the Congress functions. It carries out an awareness campaign, including a conference and a series of training workshops, to educate citizens on the importance of recording the votes of legislators. The Association also follows bills pending passage and tracks how party blocs and legislators vote on them. The information gathered through these activities is published and disseminated among journalists, NGOs, and legislators.
Corporacion Transparencia por Colombia - Colombia
Contact: transparencia@transparenciacolombia.org.co
Corporacion Transparencia por Colombia (Transparencia) monitors and advocates against public and private sector corruption in Colombia and is the Colombian chapter of Transparency International. Transparencia monitors the impact of the private sector on the Congress. Through three case studies, Transparencia is researching the extent to which private sector funding and advocacy influence the formulation of certain laws in Colombia. Educational workshops and meetings are convened after the monitoring phase is completed to discuss the results and provide the public with information to measure levels of corruption in the Congress.
Civic Alliance - Mexico
www.laneta.apc.org/alianza
Civic Alliance is a citizens' election observation organization dedicated to the promotion of democracy in Mexico. The Alliance promotes democracy through organizing civic education campaigns, monitoring mass media, and tracking the policy actions and decisions of elected civil servants to ensure accountability. The Alliance seeks to foster citizen participation in monitoring the work of deputies in the Congress. Its pilot project, "Adopt a Deputy," educates and trains citizens to monitor policy-making processes and a particular deputy's work in the Congress. Civic Alliance also disseminates information to the public on the organization and function of the Congress. Through projects such as these, Civic Alliance is working to empower Mexican citizens to become informed and active members of civil society.
Comisión Andina de Juristas (Andean Commission of Jurists) - Peru
www.cajpe.org.pe
The Comisión Andina de Juristas (CAJ) is an association focusing on human rights issues throughout the Andean region, including Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. CAJ works extensively on issues of democratization and the rule of law, which it believes are fundamental to sustained protection of human rights. As part of a national Anti-Corruption Consortium initiative comprising nongovernmental organizations in business, media, human rights, and jurists, CAJ conducts a program seeking to increase civil-judiciary cooperation. The program includes documenting citizens' participation in judicial monitoring and organizing sessions bringing together civic leaders and judges to understand the importance of citizen oversight. These activities are designed to further collaboration between judges and citizens and to decrease longstanding distrust between them.
Proética (National Consortium for Public Ethics) - Peru
www.proetica.org.pe
Proética is a civil association, founded by the Association of Exporters, Andean Commission of Jurists, Press and Society Institute, and Civil Association Transparency, to combat corruption in Peru. It conducts a project to promote an anti-corruption plan of action in the region of Lambayeque in Peru by working with government authorities to draft a plan, and by encouraging citizen participation in holding their elected officials accountable. The project includes a public education campaign to inform citizens about the need for an anti-corruption strategy and three workshops with government officials and civil society groups to draft a plan. Proética also tracks public procurement practices.
Middle East
Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace - Lebanon
www.kleudge.com/flpcp
With the hope that citizen participation at the municipal level brings change at the national level, the Lebanese Foundation for Permanent Civil Peace (LFPCP) is at the forefront of the conceptualization, production, and application of democratic and civic education. LFPCP conducts a three-year project to enhance local governance in Lebanon that includes a series of workshops where citizens and NGOs, activists, and elected officials collaborate on ideas for the development of initiatives to strengthen local governance. The Foundation also disseminates legal and technical information on municipal laws to a broad range of the public and private sector. The project is intended to provide elected officials, citizens, activists, and community leaders with a forum to develop clear procedures related to public services in municipalities.
Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation - Yemen
www.cdf-y.org
The Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation (CDF) is a network of civil society advocates dedicated to advancing community-based democracy in Yemen. CDF strengthens the role of local councils as accountable institutions by promoting effective cooperation among them as well as NGOs and government ministries in addressing concerns of citizens in community development issues, and by mobilizing citizens to communicate their views effectively. CDF conducts three two-day workshops involving local council members, local government officials, and NGOs, and three ten-day good governance and participation campaigns involving the media, as well as daily public debates. CDF also publishes a monthly newsletter focusing on democracy issues, with a supplement on local development and follow-ups on the monitoring of local development advancement and cooperation.
New Independent States
Association for Foreign Investment & Cooperation - Armenia
www.afic.am
The Association for Foreign Investment & Cooperation (AFIC) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental business association devoted to the promotion of international economic cooperation and private entrepreneurship. AFIC has conducted a case study looking at corruption in the area of custom regulations. Customs regulation was chosen because it is a particularly visible and effective way to combat corruption. Following the case study, AFIC has analyzed how customs practices inhibit trade and investment, and has organized a series of seminars publicizing the results. This project is part of the Association's effort to build coalitions of business associations to advocate needed reforms.
Center for Support of Democracy and Civic Initiatives - Russia
Contact: geiko@sps.yaroslavl.ru or sps@yaroslavl.ru
The Center for Support of Democracy and Civic Initiatives, founded in 2001 by a group of local politicians and other civil society representatives, aims to protect and promote democratic institutions in Yaroslavl oblast (region). The Center plays a role in fighting corruption by educating the public and officials about ways to fight corruption, helping them to realize that corruption is not a necessary part of life, and to improve their own lives by reducing corruption they encounter. It conducts research on corruption in Yaroslavl oblast, has organized a Public Anti-Corruption Committee that holds monthly roundtables for local experts and officials, and works to promote passage of anti-corruption legislation. It also provides training for local officials, media, and civil society representatives. In addition, the Center educates the public by publishing brochures on how to deal with corruption and a monthly newspaper on the issue of corruption throughout the region.
Golos NGO Coalition - Russia
Contact: golos@golos.org
The Golos NGO Coalition (GOLOS), a network of civic organizations operating in 35 regions of the Russian Federation, seeks to ensure greater government responsiveness to citizens' wishes. In an effort to pride legislative transparency, GOLOS facilitates the development of a greater role for the public in policy-making processes through monitoring elected officials' votes from the regional legislature, their attendance at parliamentary committee meetings, and the final outcome of legislation. Results of these analyses are distributed, free of charge, among voters of all 35 regions. Through these activities, GOLOS cultivates the public interest in their deputies' work. Also, a dialogue with the public and NGOs provides the deputies with incentive to work for their constituents.
Regional Public Foundation "Information Science for Democracy" - Russia
www.indem.ru
The Regional Public Foundation "Information Science for Democracy" (INDEM) seeks to develop democratic institutions in Russia through performing studies on corruption and anti-corruption policies, including citizen initiatives. Currently, INDEM is engaged in activities to fight corruption affecting small and medium-sized business. The organization's primary focus is on identifying and analyzing local and regional legislation and practices that contribute to corruption. Based on this analysis, INDEM develops a set of recommendations for business owners on how to overcome problems of corruption and conducts seminars and outreach advocacy programs that involve policy makers, government officials, business owners, the general public, and the media in an effort to emphasize the need to combat corruption. Working in close cooperation with the School of Public Administration of Moscow State University, the INDEM Foundation also develops a course on corruption, including lesson plans and practical exercises, as well as a textbook. This course is to prepare future government officials on the issues of corruption.
St. Petersburg Humanity and Political Studies Center - Russia
www.strategy-spb.ru
St. Petersburg Humanity and Political Studies Center (Strategy) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of scholars, politicians, journalists, and businessmen with the main goal of promoting the development of civil society in St. Petersburg and northwest Russia. Strategy seeks to battle corruption at the local level with the idea that success will work its way up to the national level. Recently, Strategy examined corruption in two regions of Russia near St. Petersburg. Its program consists of research, conferences for NGO leaders and local self-government officials, and the development of recommendations to the legislators of both regions. This program aims to raise public awareness of the issue of corruption and the means to prevent it, which may result in significant legislative changes in both regions.
Open Society Foundation - Ukraine
Contact: info@osf.kiev.ua
The Open Society Foundation's (OSF) mission is to promote participatory democracy and open society in Ukraine by involving voters and their organizations in the political process. OSF carries out a public information campaign to provide voters with timely, accurate information about the activities of their elected representatives in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's Parliament). Under the parliamentary monitoring program, OSF produces four quarterly reports on the activities of Rada deputies and factions, which are distributed to over 2,000 NGOs, media outlets, government agencies, libraries and educational institutions. Two books are also being produced by OSF: The Active Citizen's Guide to Parliamentary Democracy and How Well Did Our Deputies Work? These publications are to be discussed at twelve monthly press conferences and three roundtables in an effort to build public monitoring and an accountable legislature.
Center for Democratic Initiatives - Uzbekistan
Contact: cdi-office.org@rambler.ru
The Center for Democratic Initiatives (CDI) conducts a program to expose the arbitrariness, corruption, and abusive conduct of law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan. CDI documents cases of illegal and arbitrary behavior of Uzbek law enforcement and judicial authorities. CDI makes five research trips to explore different types of abuses in different regions of the country. The Center publishes the information gathered on the fact-finding trips, and makes policy recommendations to the Uzbek government and the international community.
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) 378-9890.
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