Description
In the new legal/economic/social conditions the passivity of NGOs increased in Hungary. NGOs do not want or dare to fulfil their commitments concerning civil control. The aim is to give assistance to the sector and to strengthen the advocacy and watchdog activities of NGOs so that we can have an open society – sustainable environment; more NGOs can keep their public benefit status, NGOs can implement their activities of public utility actively. Main focus: rights for creating associations, information rights, participation in local decision-making processes. The project will help to get acquainted the new civil law, and help in preparing its modifications (consultation, forums). Main target group: active NGOs in the region, secondary: public of the region. The project partner ProNas association will organize a forum for NGOs and local municipalities, PRONAS was fighting against the waste incineration in Heiligenkreuz, the topic of the forum will be this cooperation and lessons learnt.
Summary of project results
In the changed legal/social conditions in Hungary the passivity of CSOs/NGOs grew, they are not able to fulfill their role in civil control. Therefore the project aimed at assisting civil society members to strengthen their advocacy and watchdog activities, to able to keep or regain their public benefit organization status after re-registering and to make them able to implement their activities of public utility more actively. The project targeted directly CSOs/NGOs, inhabitants of GyMS county (later of other surrounding counties), indirectly local governments with defining roles in local partnership. The focus of the activities were using, securing and strengthening 1) rights for creating associations, 2) information rights, 3) participation in local decision-making. A campaign for utility data was organized, two related pocketbooks were published. Civil activity in legislation and regional development processes was urged by two actions and a brochure, regional forums, host-days were organized to strengthen the cooperation between Hungarian and Austrian NGOs and advocacy. Non-stop counselling office and the project webpage helped CSOs/NGOs to adjust to the new legal environment and strengthen civil control. As a result CSOs/NGOs of the county could fulfill their re-registration responsibilities, local government and civil society relations were created, local authorities were challenged with public data provision.
Summary of bilateral results