11\/4\/2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On November 9, the Bulgarian Community for Liberal Democracy\n(BOLD) will hold a mini-series of panel discussions under the general heading \u201cPost-Election:\nCivic Participation in Local Self-Government\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BOLD will hold a mini-series of panel discussions on civic\nparticipation in local government at the Vlaykova Cinema (11 Tsar Ivan Asen II\nStreet) in Sofia, on November 9, from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall \u2013 the symbolic\nbeginning of democratic change in Central and Eastern Europe, and one week\nafter the local elections in our country, the Bulgarian Community for Liberal\nDemocracy (BOLD) will organize a mini-series of panel discussions on\n\u201cPost-election: Civic participation in local self-government\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of the four panels is to shape the messages of an envisaged\nAddress through which citizens and organizations will call on the newly elected\nmayors and municipal councilors to respect and realize the right of citizens to\nparticipate in decision-making processes that affect them. The discussions will\nhighlight some of the most important causes civil society is fighting for in\nits interaction with local authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens, representatives of civil movements and initiatives,\nnon-governmental organizations supporting human rights and fundamental\nfreedoms, as well as representatives of local authorities will be our guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Topics related to eco-social justice, fundamental human rights\nand freedoms, children and education, and the empowerment of disadvantaged\ngroups will be discussed in four 45-minute panel discussions. The focus of the\npresentations and discussions will be on the role of civic participation and\nthe responsibility of local authorities in these thematic areas. Speakers and\nmoderators will include representatives of eco-social movements, human rights\norganizations, child protection organizations, social service providers,\nspecialists and academics, including Alexander Kashamov, Krassimir Kanev,\nIvanka Shalapatova, Iva Boneva, Nadezhda Deneva, Yuliana Metodieva, Anna\nKrasteva, Rumyan Rusinov and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The address to the newly elected mayors and municipal councilors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Participants will be invited to help develop and subsequently\nsupport an Address to the newly elected mayors and municipal councilors, who\nwill be called upon to respect the right of citizens to participate in public\nand political life and in governance. The expected key messages will recall\nthat participation in social and political life is a recognized right of\neveryone, but it must be exercised so as not to infringe on the rights of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, civic participation is one of the ways in\nwhich citizens can protect their rights, especially when they are violated by\nthe authorities. Municipalities must create conditions for civic participation\nthat allow citizens to exercise control over their policy-making and\nimplementation activities at the local level, as well as to ensure civic\nparticipation in decision-making. Respecting civic participation, local\nauthorities must resist all manifestations of anti-democratic populism. Nor should\nthey succumb to street pressure when it runs against human rights. Local\nauthorities also have the difficult task of resisting pressure from people with\nmoney and power while pursuing policies in the public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is BOLD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bulgarian Community for Liberal Democracy (BOLD) is a newly\nestablished value community that seeks to improve cooperation between\nsupporters of democracy in Bulgaria, to develop new strategies for\ncommunicating liberal values, and to strengthen the resistance of civil society\nagainst anti-democratic campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For inquiries from the media<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Dimitrina Petrova,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chairman of the BOLD Initiative Committee<\/p>\n\n\n\n e-mail: Dimitrina.petrova@bghelsinki.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"11\/4\/2019 On November 9, the Bulgarian Community for Liberal Democracy (BOLD) will hold a mini-series of panel discussions under the general heading \u201cPost-Election: Civic Participation in Local Self-Government\u201d. BOLD will hold a mini-series of panel discussions on civic participation in local government at the Vlaykova Cinema (11 Tsar Ivan Asen II Street) in Sofia, on [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[102],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n