Appeal launched against encroachment on public participation

The civic organizations making up the Civic Assembly of Ukraine [GAU] have thoroughly analyzed and discussed certain Cabinet of Ministers Resolutions and reached the conclusion that the “additional measures” severely narrow the possibilities for civic organizations to take part in forming and implementing State policy. For example: - the number of civic organizations which can take part in public councils is artificially reduced (at the level of ministries and regional organizations – to 15 organizations); - the right of civic organizations to take part in public councils is artificially restricting by territorial status, this running counter to both the Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)14 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on the legal status of non-governmental organisations in Europe and the European Court of Human Rights Judgment in the Case of Koretskyy and others v. Ukraine. - The requirement to elect public councils during annual meetings by no less than a quarter of those registered civic organizations effectively makes the creation of such councils impossible. Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 10 from 06.01.2010, unlike the previous normative act, does not set down mandatory public consultation at the initiative of civic organizations which is a considerable restriction of citizens’ right to take part in governance via civic organizations. GAU has initiated an appeal which it is inviting people to sign by 20 February to have this dangerous Resolution revoked.