Enhancing communication between Parliament and civil society in focus at OSCE-supported seminar
ASTANA, 5 June 2014 – An OSCE-supported training seminar on improving communications between civil society and the legislative body of power took place today in Astana.
The seminar was organized in partnership with the Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan for 25 participants from the parliament, non-governmental organizations, political parties and the media. It aims to train civil society representatives from Astana, Karaganda, Kokshetau, Kostanay, Pavlodar and Petropavlovsk on how to properly draft and submit requests to the Parliament and ways to enhance their interaction with parliamentary factions.
The event will equip non-governmental organizations with the skills and knowledge to analyse legislation, draft proposals to legal acts and prepare relevant documentation, including comparative tables and explanatory notes. Participants will also learn about the activities of parliamentary working groups and how to effectively communicate with parliamentarians and parliamentary committees.
“Effective legislation and a transparent law-making process are two of the cornerstones of the political, economic and social development of any country. Civil society organizations play a crucial role in conveying public opinion to elected officials,” said Head of Centre Ambassador Natalia Zarudna. “We hope that this seminar will help promote the role of parties in the political system, strengthen their links with civil society and make the parliamentary system as a whole more effective.”
Zauresh Battalova, Head of the Public Foundation for Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan, said: “This seminar aims to promote the effective interaction of deputies, apparatuses of parliamentary factions and civil society institutions to encourage public participation in the legislative process, which is essential for the development of civil society and furthering rule of law to achieve the goals of genuine democracy in Kazakhstan.”
The seminar is part of a series of OSCE-supported events aimed at enhancing the work of parliamentary factions in the Parliament.