Newsroom
NGOs to enhance their role in Kosovo
PRISTINA 15 June 2001
PRISTINA, 15 June 2001 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the NGO Assembly of Kosovo are hosting tomorrow, 16 June, a consultative meeting to improve co-operation between non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The meeting will try to build a sense of local ownership within the NGO community. This gathering is meant to build a common understanding of the needs of citizens, and society at large, to which NGOs could respond more effectively by working together. It will also look at developing a sustainable and effective infrastructure that serves and represents the NGO communities in Kosovo.
"We are hopeful that Kosovo's NGOs will work together to assist the development of a strong civil society holding public bodies accountable to citizens," said Valentin Mitev, Acting Head of OSCE's Civil Society Division.
More than one year after the establishment of the NGO Assembly, the NGO community in Kosovo faces an entirely different situation. An unprecedented growth of NGOs has been seen with more than 1,000 registered organisations. This also reflects the scope and diversity of their activities.
This has led to calls for a new approach among NGOs to build a common platform and revitalise their organisational structure. This includes developing innovative solutions for the NGO Assembly to represent the NGO community to government institutions effectively, and so giving civil society an enhanced voice.
The OSCE, through its Democratization Department, has supported the establishment of a network of NGOs that promotes public accountability in the development of democratic civil society in Kosovo.
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For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; e-mail: press@omik.org, website: www.osce.org/kosovo
The meeting will try to build a sense of local ownership within the NGO community. This gathering is meant to build a common understanding of the needs of citizens, and society at large, to which NGOs could respond more effectively by working together. It will also look at developing a sustainable and effective infrastructure that serves and represents the NGO communities in Kosovo.
"We are hopeful that Kosovo's NGOs will work together to assist the development of a strong civil society holding public bodies accountable to citizens," said Valentin Mitev, Acting Head of OSCE's Civil Society Division.
More than one year after the establishment of the NGO Assembly, the NGO community in Kosovo faces an entirely different situation. An unprecedented growth of NGOs has been seen with more than 1,000 registered organisations. This also reflects the scope and diversity of their activities.
This has led to calls for a new approach among NGOs to build a common platform and revitalise their organisational structure. This includes developing innovative solutions for the NGO Assembly to represent the NGO community to government institutions effectively, and so giving civil society an enhanced voice.
The OSCE, through its Democratization Department, has supported the establishment of a network of NGOs that promotes public accountability in the development of democratic civil society in Kosovo.
--
For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; e-mail: press@omik.org, website: www.osce.org/kosovo