UCIPR experts took part in a working meeting organised by the International Renaissance Foundation. This event brought together the winners of the competition ‘Promoting the development of territorial community statutes and the use of local democracy tools’.
The competition, initiated by the Renaissance Foundation, is of strategic importance for strengthening the instruments of direct democracy. Its goal is to help local self-government bodies (LSG) develop new or improve existing charters of territorial communities.
Among the 14 projects selected by the expert council is the UCIPR initiative: ‘Introduction of local democracy tools in the Ternopil, Chortkiv, and Ozerna territorial communities through the adoption of a territorial community charter.’
Our project's goal is to help the Ternopil, Chortkiv, and Ozerna communities develop or update their statutes in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine ‘On People's Power at the Local Self-Government Level.’ This law obliges local councils to implement key instruments of public participation by 2027.
‘We chose these three communities because Ozerna has neither a charter nor regulations governing public participation tools, Ternopil has a 2019 charter that does not comply with the updated standards, and Chortkiv adopted a charter in 2022, but it also needs to be brought into line with the new legislation,’ said project manager Maksym Lukinyuk.
The final part of the meeting was devoted to discussing the draft model charter for rural, settlement, or urban territorial communities.
This is the second discussion of the draft model Charter, which UCIPR experts are working on. Its text was previously sent to representatives of civil society organisations for their suggestions. This approach allows for consideration of all ideas and expert opinions of civil society representatives.
‘By 2026, each of the 1,250 local self-government bodies must develop and adopt a Charter of the territorial community. Therefore, local self-government bodies, civil society organisations, and active residents must join forces to effectively achieve this goal,’ said Maksym Latsyba.
Work on the draft model charter for rural, settlement, or urban territorial communities is being carried out as part of the project ‘Widespread introduction of the latest tools for public participation through the implementation of Law No. 3703-IX ’On People's Power at the Local Self-Government Level’, which is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
The discussion of the Draft Charter represented the position of the UCIPR and did not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.
Read also: Introduction of local democracy tools in three communities in the Ternopil oblast: launching the new UCIPR project!