September 5th, 2013
ESE as a member of the Global Movement for Budget Transparency, Accountability and Participation (BTAP) urges the world´s 20 economic powers to set a good example and to commit to advancing budget transparency, accountability and participation in their countries. The G20 countries should not only focus on discussing how to advance transparency and fight tax-avoidance, they should also launch strong and decisive strategies to promote budget transparency and accountability in their own countries, setting a good example to the rest of the world.
The Russian government –who currently has the G20 presidency- has indicated that “corruption is a great obstacle for effective growth of the global economy”. However, progress has still to be made on budget transparency, which is a key mechanism to reduce spaces for corruption. According to the International Budget Partnership´s Open Budget Index 2012, 9 of the G20 countries –Argentina, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey- scored less than 70 out of 100 and 2 of these –China and Saudi Arabia- provide scant or no budget information. Furthermore, Russia barely made it beyond a score of 70.
The G20 countries represent 90% of global GDP and 2/3 of the world's population. They should take action and promote budget transparency and accountability in their own countries, by publishing annually, in a timely and accessible way, all eight key budget documents, and by developing clear mechanisms for citizens’ engagement in budget decision-making processes. Furthermore, the G20 should affirm that citizens have a substantial role to play in the budget process. G20 countries still have quite some road ahead to improve substantially their performance which reduces dramatically citizens’ possibilities to participate in and hold government accountable for decision-making processes that have a direct impact on their lives.
At BTAP, we are convinced that transparent and accountable budget systems are a priceless tool in the fight against corruption. We demand that governments disclose all aspects related to public resources, advancing towards transparent and accountable budget systems, in which citizens have a role to play.
Five persons from the ESE staff were participating on five day training workshop on Gender responsive budgeting (GRB), from 25th till 30th August 2013.
This training workshop was organized, developed and realized according to the ESEs needs for capacity building, with focus on the areas where ESE works. During the workshop the following issues were covered: Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW); Preparation of Shadow reports to the CEDAW Convention with focus on the fiscal implications of its implementation; Budget analysis from gender perspective; Budget analysis from the social, cultural and economic rights perspective etc.
The training workshop was prepared and conducted by Debbie Budlender international expert for GRB.
Despite the training part, on the workshop with assistance of the engaged expert we have developed a strategy for implementation of the GRB as a part of the ESEs activities.
The analysis was prepared by the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women of RM. According to the Monthly Report on implementation of the Central Budget, published by the Treasury Sector of the Ministry of Finance, in the course of the first five months of 2013, a total of 55.113 million Denars have been realized as total budget revenue item, which is 37% of total projected budget revenues for 2013 (147.958 million Denars).
Revenues of the Central Budget are collected as tax revenues (taxes and contributions) and non-tax revenues (fees from health services provided, monetary fees and fines, etc.). Thus in the first five months a total of 47.242 million Denars were collected as tax revenues, i.e. 37% of the projected amount for tax revenues (125.555 million Denars) and 4.051 million Denars as non-tax revenues, i.e. 29% of the projected amount for non-tax revenues.
Within the framework of the initiative ‘Human Rights in Health Care’ implemented by ESE, financially supported by the Foundation Open Society New York and the Foundation Open Society Macedonia, a two-day training on ‘Human Rights in Health Care’ was held at Hotel Arka in Skopje on 22 and 23 June 2013 (Saturday-Sunday).
The goal of this training was to inform participants about the rights of patients and the system of protection thereof according to the Law on Protection of Patients’ Rights, the protection of patients’ rights in the field of health insurance, the role of the State Sanitary and Health Inspectorate in protecting patients’ rights, protection of patients’ rights at local level – work of the Commission for Improving Patients’ Rights of the City of Skopje, and punitive and legal protection of human health. Several examples and case studies were presented at the training and discussions were carried out by participants and trainers to find solutions to such problems.
The training was attended by representatives of the following civil organizations and institutions:
Macedonian Research Association for Autism, Nefron Association, Diamed Association, Association of Citizens with Rare Diseases ‘Life with Challenges’, Association of Hemophiliacs ‘Hemalog’, Union of Associations of Diabetics of Macedonia, CDRIM and PHI City General Hospital ‘8th September’.
As part of the initiative “Human rights in health care“ realized by the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women in RM – ESE and financially supported by the Foundations Open Society from New York and the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia in the period from 22-23 June (Saturday-Sunday), a two-day training on the topic“Human rights in health care“ will be held at the hotel Arka, Skopje.
The forthcoming training is a continuation of our last joint efforts and work towards improvement of the situation with regard to the realization of the right to health, by including and mobilizing a wider range of civic organizations that represent association of patients with different diseases. The training will be attended by representatives from the Ministry of health, the Republic sanitary and health inspectorate and representative from the Commission for protection of patients’ rights.
