22/09/2010
Along the event, there were debates on various local and regional realities, focusing on democracy and the importance of participation, as well as on opportunities for active citizenship. Issues related to initiative, involvement and local action were addressed also, stressing on good practices in this respect. The topics under discussion converged towards the necessity and usefulness of increasing community welfare through direct actions of citizens themselves. The organizers provided relevant examples, based on practical experiences and realities actually lived by people in different communities, which were meant to be inspirational towards taking action.
The
event was an opportunity to debate the
European Code of Civic Participation and to present joint proposals of
the working group on social inclusion referring to a potential consultation mechanism between public authorities and NGOs with regard to social inclusion policies. Once again we reiterated the crucial importance of real collaboration among NGOs active in the area and local authorities that hold responsibilities related to the creation and implementation of measures aimed at the social inclusion of vulnerable groups. Hence, it was underlined that only by starting from the local level we may then build together a national strategy for social inclusion that is efficient, viable, and thus realistic (based on the very needs of beneficiaries themselves).
Citizens’ Participation Week (September 20th – 26th, 2010) represented a good occasion for local communities and NGOs confronted with various common problems to share their experiences and express their initiatives of social improvement, as well as other professional initiatives that unite them. The reunion itself was meant to evidence the importance of dialogue and collaboration and to promote those civic initiatives that play a key role in the development of local communities.
