Azerbaijani Citizen Participation in Decision Making
In January 2005, a landslide in Baku brought public concerns over the safety of construction to the forefront of Azerbaijani politics. At the heart of the issue were the difficulties average citizens face in having a voice in city planning processes that directly affect them.
As articulated in the 2005 Aarhus Convention and the 2006 European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan, the government of Azerbaijan is required to establish formal, legal mechanisms for citizen input into decisions concerning the environment, which is broadly defined to encompass human rights, health, and quality of life. However, despite these international commitments, Azerbaijan does not have a formal mechanism in place for citizens to provide input on civic decisions.
Building upon the standards set by these international commitments, the Environmental Legal Center “Ecolex” received a pilot grant from USAID to develop draft legislation that establishes formal procedures for public participation in environmental matters.
 |
Signs of the construction boom in Baku are visible everywhere, yet the voices of those most affected often go unheard
Photo Credit: Caitlin M. Ryan, Eurasia Foundation |
“There are two sides in this process. One that makes decisions and the other that is interested in the process, that is, civic stakeholders. Our research focused on how to unite both sides for mutual benefit,” says Ecolex Director Samir Isayev.
And uniting the two sides is exactly what Ecolex has done. Ecolex began their work by collecting and analyzing existing legislation on public participation from other countries of Europe and the CIS. Armed with this toolbox of examples, Ecolex conducted an extensive process of drafting legislation and soliciting input from stakeholders, including environmental organizations, government and media through private interviews, public hearings, roundtables and a final conference.
The pilot grant capitalized on a unique working relationship between Ecolex and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Members of the Ministry were key participants in roundtables and conferences on the draft legislation, and the Ministry has been instrumental in getting the legislation onto the president’s agenda. President Aliyev is expected to review the draft, in the form of a Presidential Decree, in early 2007.
“It is very useful for us to hear people’s opinions. When the public takes part in the decision making process, it is also good for us because they may have information that we don’t have. So the project is valuable for both the Ministry and for society,” says Tarlan Ramazanov of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.
Although the direct impact of the legislation is not likely to affect the pace of construction in Baku in the near term, the participatory process launched by Ecolex has set a standard for future collaboration on mutually beneficial projects between civil society and the government of Azerbaijan. If approved, the legislation will also establish a legal mechanism that will provide the public with the right to access information on activities that affect the environment and public health, including construction, and to take their claims to court.
Isayev has big plans to build upon the relationships that were established through the project.
“The project gave us an opportunity to begin a process that has just begun and that will last a long time. We will continue to lobby the government to adopt the Decree and when it is accepted, trainings and public outreach on the new mechanisms must be conducted,” he says.
Back to Top ^ |
