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Description
In recent years we have been observing an alarming increase in the number of corruption crimes in Poland. Both the Police and CBA (Central Anti-Corruption Bureau) inform about the growing scale of the problem. In 2008, there were ca. 8 800 cases compared to 32 000 in 2018/2019. Every year new legal regulations are launched without being subject to corruption risk assessment at the legislative stage. We will design a public tool supporting civic initiatives aiming at the elimination of corruption-generating regulations. We will analyse solutions functioning in other countries and based on that we will prepare a preliminary version of the Polish methodology for the anti-corruption analysis of legal acts. We will conduct a pilot in the form of 10 expert opinions prepared based on the developed methodology that will be sent to proper bodies responsible for the above regulations, to gather their remarks. Furthermore, we will invite 200 individuals to 10 webinars devoted to practical aspects of the ultimate version of the corruption risk assessment methodology for legal acts, which will be available not only to Polish addressees but also to over 350 entities belonging to the United Nation Convention Against Corruption Coalition.
Summary of project results
Corruption is a serious social problem that negatively affects citizens'' trust in public institutions, hinders economic development and leads to social inequalities. In Poland, as in many other countries, there is a need for a systematic and methodical approach to the analysis of legal acts in terms of potential corruption risks.
The project responded to the challenges of the lack of coherent and publicly available tools for conducting anti-corruption analysis of legal acts. Existing methods were often fragmented, not very effective and not widely available to citizens and civil society organisations. The lack of such tools hindered effective monitoring and preventing corruption in the legislative process.
We also noted the need to educate and raise awareness among citizens, officials and representatives of various institutions on the importance of transparency in the law-making process and to strengthen the competences of those involved in corruption prevention.
Today''s societies face problems resulting from insufficient transparency and accountability in public administration. Corruption often leads to a waste of public funds, a reduction in the quality of public services and social injustice. Therefore, we wanted to create a publicly available methodology for anti-corruption analysis of legal acts and thus support civic action and the activity of citizens’ organisations in monitoring and influencing the legislative process, which in the long term contributes to building a more transparent and honest state.
One of the first activities in the project was the preparation of two analyses of international solutions for anti-corruption analysis of legal acts. These analyses, available on our foundation''s website, formed the basis for the development of the Polish methodology.
Subsequently, on the basis of these analyses and expert knowledge, we developed a preliminary version of a Polish methodology for anti-corruption analysis of legal acts. This methodology was made available to the public on the project website and was discussed in detail during webinars and training sessions.
Another important activity was the development of 10 anti-corruption expert reports on various pieces of legislation. These included the draft law on the protection of whistleblowers, the law on the coal allowance, resolutions of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Assembly and the Łódź Voivodeship Board. These expert opinions have been sent to the relevant entities responsible for these laws and posted on the project website.
On the basis of these activities, as well as previously mentioned 10 expert opinions on legal acts and the comments made, we have developed the final version of the methodology for anti-corruption analysis of legal acts, which we have made available to participants of webinars and training courses.
We concluded the project with a wrap-up conference, and the high attendance shows the high interest in the project results.
As part of our outreach activities, we created a project subpage on the foundation''s website, prepared an information brochure and set up an information hotline. We also conducted an information campaign on social media.
The project has achieved significant results by focusing on increasing transparency and eliminating corrupt regulations in the Polish legal system.
First and foremost, the anti-corruption methodology for the analysis of legislation, which has been developed and made publicly available, provides a state-of-the-art tool for monitoring and analysing legislation for its potential of corruption.
The direct effect of the project was the increase in the participants'' awareness and knowledge of existing anti-corruption methodologies and their applicability in Poland. The increase in participants'' knowledge of global solutions reached a rate of 92.8%, and competence in anti-corruption - 87.6%. The project significantly exceeded the assumed indicators, which proves high effectiveness of the educational activities.
Through project activities, we have also influenced specific legislation through the development of 10 anti-corruption expert reports, which have been sent to relevant actors and made publicly available. These expert reports have influenced greater transparency and enabled comments on legislation, which is key to improving the quality of legislation.
The webinars and training sessions we conducted contributed to raising competence and awareness of anti-corruption analysis of legal acts among a wide audience.
The target groups of the project were both public institutions and citizens. The institutions included the Sejm, the Senate, the Chancellery of the President, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the Government Legislation Centre, various ministries, the National School of Public Administration, and city halls and local assemblies. These institutions were provided with methodology and expertise, with the aim not only of educating them, but also of involving them in legislative processes.
The participation of citizens and civil society organisations who attended webinars, trainings and conferences has increased civic engagement and strengthened civil society in monitoring and influencing the law-making process.