The on-line event “Improving the lives of citizens through better governance” of the Partnership for Good Governance held from 5 to 7 October 2020 allowed speakers and participants to exchange about priorities in the region under the PGG Programme. In the framework of the event a “Suggestion Box” was opened to allow national partners including civil society as well as individuals to share their thoughts and ideas about the priorities for future co-operation beyond 2021 between the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Eastern Partnership countries.
This section presents the final analysis of the suggestions, concerning the main PGG themes, submitted in this framework.
The main areas highlighted will be considered for future joint co-operation in the Eastern Partnership region.
The ideas shared came from a wide range of participants throughout the Council of Europe member states, such as public officials, members of parliament and of Non-Governmental Organisation, or individuals.
Fighting economic crime
- Tackling corruption within the judiciary to improve its functioning and enhance its accountability
- Reinforcing the capacity of anti-corruption bodies notably through digitalisation (IT, equipment, software, e-learning)
- Raising awareness of the anti-corruption policies and actions through e-events, informative sessions at schools and universities and supporting more coverage on different networks and media in order to spread information also in rural areas
Better justice for citizens
- Reinforce the capacity of judicial institutions (digitalisation, e-learning)
- Improving competences and skills of legal professionals, enhancing training of trainers in order to transfer the knowledge of European standards to other legal professionals
- Enhancing the capacity of the staff of the Agent Office to European Court of Human Rights
Protection against discrimination
- Reinforcing the capacity of anti-discrimination bodies
- Tackling hate speech on media
- Intensify co-operation in the field of citizens’ right to health
- Giving higher priority to gender and anti-discrimination aspects with regard to vulnerable groups (i.e. migrants, elderly, etc.) who are more affected by the Covid-19
Promoting Gender equality
- Reinforcing co-operation in the field of gender equality and promoting the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and other European gender equality standards
- Reinforcing the capacity of national institutions dealing with gender equality policies
- Ensuring the protection of human rights and prevention of “gender-based discrimination” of vulnerable groups, who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic
Improving freedom of media
- Improving freedom of expression and speech and supporting laws against defamation
- Ensuring media ethics, media self-regulation and independent media
- Increasing widespread of media coverage in all networks (i.e. TV, cable networks, radio, podcast, newsletters, websites etc.) on European standards in the field of media
Ensuring human rights
- Ensuring implementation of the human rights standards in line with the European Convention on Human Rights
- Combating trafficking in human being
- Protecting children’s rights
Transversal issues
- Ensuring inclusiveness of the human rights component in all activities and actions in the priority areas
- Closer involvement of the Civil Society in PGG activities and reinforcing co-operation with relevant institutions
- Raising awareness and level of information about the PGG activities and the European standards in the field of anti-discrimination
- Closer involve Youth in the PGG activities.
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