Local journalists and CSOs will strengthen their capacities for curbing corruption

 

During March – September 2020 the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives „Viitorul” is implementing the project „Regional media against local corruption”. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of regional mass-media and CSOs in curbing corruption and namely: the declaration of wealth and personal interests of local elected officials. The project is financed by the funds of the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

„Following the 2019 local elections were elected 898 mayors and 11580 councillors (1108 district and municipal councillor and 10472 town and village councillors) who, according to the Law no. 133/2016 regarding the declaration of personal wealth and interests, are subjects of the declaration of wealth and personal interests. Through this project we aim to strengthen the capacities of media institutions and civil society organisations to monitor and elucidate corruption cases, especially in terms of the ability to dynamically analyse declaration of wealth and personal interests of local elected officials” said Ana Znaceni, the project manager.

Within the project are foreseen several regional seminars and one study visit to the National Anticorruption Centre and the National Integrity Authority. The seminars will take place with the participation of journalists and NGOs from Moldovan regions: North, Center, South and Gagauzia. Participating journalists following the capacity building events will develop journalistic investigations.

The topics to be tackled during the trainings refer to: the legal framework and the anti-corruption institution in Moldova: the provisions of the new “anti-corruption package”; declaration of wealth and personal interests: content and procedure; the system of control of assets and interests of persons with public functions; how the journalistic investigation is carried out?

Also, within the project are envisaged to develop three podcasts on topics related to monitoring and elucidating the cases of local corruption.

Considering the pandemic due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) the training “Monitoring and elucidating the cases of local corruption” for journalists and CSOs from the North region of the country will take place online on 3rd and 4th of June 2020 on the zoom platform.

„We hope that through this initiative, the experts of IDIS „Viitorul” will be able to contribute to increase the understanding capacity of the civil society representatives and journalists involved in implementing this project regarding the mechanisms and tools for curbing corruption at local and central level. Only together, combining efforts in this regard, we can identify solutions to overcome these challenges”, says Liubomir Chiriac, executive director of IDIS „Viitorul”.

The events take place within the project „Regional media against local corruption”. The project is intended to promote public intolerance to corruption and support anti-corruption efforts in Moldova through active involvement of regional media and CSOs. The project is financed by the funds of the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.