POP Network at the ‘Guardians of Democracy’ Conference in Budapest, organized by Civil Kollégium Alapítvány (CKA) with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy!

From September 25-27, 2024, the POP Network participated in the International Conference “The Guardians of Democracy,” where key issues related to strengthening local democracy in the region and beyond were discussed. This event provided a platform for collaboration between civil society organizations and local governments, promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in democratic processes. Colleagues from the Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) and Vlora Youth Center presented the “Juxtaposing Political Offers” (POP Network), an initiative aimed at empowering public debates and raising citizens’ awareness of political platforms in Albania. Through this platform, the goal is to align political platforms with the needs and priorities of citizens, contributing to enhanced transparency and accountability in our local democracy.

Other key presentations included:

Hungary, presented by Péter Szabados: This initiative established local democratic hubs to connect civil society with local politicians, engaging 11-12 municipalities in Hungary on projects addressing issues such as air pollution and the reform of social ordinances.

Poland: The “Silesian Blossoming” initiative brought together more than 30 citizen groups fighting to improve the quality of life in the Silesian region, helping to activate citizens to address social and climate issues.

Slovakia, presented by Maros Chmelik: This initiative helped form local groups defending democracy and combating extremism, with the support of over 120 active people in the Banská Bystrica region and beyond.

Additionally, the conference explored innovative methods for involving citizens in decision-making processes through citizens’ assemblies and community organizing. Presenters like Melinda Várfi from Hungary and Gresa Berisha from Kosovo discussed the importance of civic platforms and active citizen participation in local budget planning.

This event was an excellent opportunity to learn from regional experiences and share our practices in promoting democracy, transparency, and citizen engagement. Success for democracy!

Thank you CKA for the invitation and Olof Palmes Internationella Center; Embassy of Sweden in Tirana; and National Endowment for Democracy for supporting POP Network!