IN SHORT
Good governance by public institutions is defined by their accountability and transparency, as well as citizen participation in the decision making and implementation processes. These three aspects of good governance are crucial to socio-economic development and environmental protection in a modern democratic society.
It is of the utmost importance that civil society organizations, as representatives of groups of citizens with a common interest, monitor the decision-making processes, implementation of regulations, and the level of citizen participation in both of these processes. Based on the monitoring results, civil society organizations can make relevant recommendations on how accountability and transparency of state institutions can be improved, i.e. how citizens’ active participation in decision-making and implementation of regulations and public policies can be improved and encouraged.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The accountability and transparency of public institutions in the processes of adopting and implementing regulations and policies, as well as the active participation of citizens in both these processes, are crucial for socio-economic development and environmental protection in a modern democratic society.
ACCOUNTABILITY
public institutions are accountable for the accomplishments in the enforcement of public policies and provision of services to citizens, that is, for responsible conduct that protects the public interest.
TRANSPARENCY
public institutions should make information on the results of their work and established procedures publicly available to all citizens.
ACTIVE CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION
citizens should actively participate in the process of adopting regulations and policies, thus ensuring the quality and efficiency of the implementation of public policies and regulations.
PROBLEMS
Public institutions in Serbia and the Western Balkans are failing to ensure transparency of their work, while examples of irresponsible conduct are numerous. Irregular reporting to the public on their performance and non-involvement of the public in the decision-making process and implementation of regulations and policies leads to their reduced transparency. Citizens often do not have information on how environmental policies and regulations are enacted and implemented, and very often they witness inadequate regulations or non-enforcement of them. All this leads to numerous problems in the protection of nature and animals in Serbia and the Western Balkans today.
SOLUTION
ORCA Monitoring is a program implemented to identify the adequacy of existing policies and regulations, the need to adopt new ones, and the level of citizen involvement in the adoption and implementation of public policies and regulations in the field of animal and nature protection. ORCA Monitoring is conducted throughout Serbia and is based on two decades of continuous communication with citizens and identification of problems encountered by public institutions. Based on the information we receive directly from citizens, we formulate proposals for improving public regulations and policies in the fields of animal welfare and nature conservation. We monitor the work of state institutions and the implementation of relevant regulations and policies in the fields of animal welfare and nature conservation. We share the results we obtained with the citizens of Serbia through the media and influence greater accountability and transparency of public institutions responsible for the protection of animals and nature in Serbia. Through our public advocacy campaigns for better regulation and policies, we encourage citizens to actively engage and articulate their needs while addressing public institutions through the work of our organization. Together, we make Serbia a better place for people and animals to live in.
