Are we entitled to speak on behalf of other people? What kind of interest do we represent? Watchdogs - Working Out Credibility Ivan Roncak, Warsaw, 26th March

Watchdog scene in Slovakia –National network Local active people Local WD organisations Local councillors – anticorruption leaders Local WD journalists Bottom-up process, no formal structure, only group, common campaigns if needed, 3 intensive 3-day trainings a year 2

National campaigns National network – TI Slovakia organized first „Skalka“ – first 3-day training – antikor network was born National campaigns of antikor network – examples: –Free Access to Information Act –New Municipal Act – protest to revocation of vice-mayor of Town Sala – anticorruption leader 3

National campaigns How? –Petitions –Comments to laws proposals (opinions from public) within interministerial review process –Antikor network is not legal person, it is only platform for sharing experiences and skills – entering some campaign is voluntary and must be checked by each individual or organisation within network 4

National campaigns Why? –Pursuing public interest saving public money more transparency more public control more civic participation better abovementioned policies, no other policies (e.g. public health, foreign policy, presidential election etc.) and NO POLITICS 5

National campaigns - risks conflict of interests - no problem: antikor network members are active only at local government level Representation of other people – no problem: each member (organisation) represents only itself Exclusion of other interests – no problem: we represent issues of transparency, saving public money and strenghtening od civic participation 6

Local campaign Banska Bystrica Regional city 82 thousand inhabitants (sixth biggest town in Slovakia) Seat of regional self-government, regional state administration 7

Local campaign 8 Civic movement „Citizens to city“ Nonformal city – wide citizen movement Origin in January 2006 as a reaction to problems in city (especially colapse of city transportation) and results of regional election

Local campaign How? –Group of active citizens – inhabitants of B. Bystrica –Petitions –Open letters, press release, press conferences –Information campaigns – leaflets, newsletter –Analyses –Using of symbols – giving of garbage can to mayor to fill it by comments of citizens 9

Local campaign Why? –Pursuing public interest saving public money more transparency more public control more civic participation Our values – transparency, civic participation, environment protection 10

Local campaign - risks Conflict of interests –major problem –We share our values with group of MPs, but we have to be separate; thus we are able to rate their work objectively –In our campaigns we ask for support all MPs –Before local election, candidates to MPs can´t participate our activities 11

Local campaign - risks Representation of other people (our legitimacy) –No problem each member represents only itself, no all citizens of our town Our values routed in our mission are clear; we represent people with the same values, nobody more 12

Local campaign - risks Exclusion of other interests –no problem, we represent only our values –some other group may represent other values – e.g. sportsmen 13

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Ivan Roncak Transparency International Slovakia Citizens to their town, Banska Bystrica 14