Interim Report of ZA’LART 2015

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Until June 12 at the portal ZA’LART were reported from citizens 200 reports. They contain information and denunciations of abuse within the campaign. Reports are  divided into 12 main categories of violations and the main number of reported cases deals with the misuse of administration and public sector. For such offenses there is a high sensibility that corresponds to 44% of cases reported or equivalent of 98 reports. Attempts of vote buying in exchange of  services or direct economic interest is reported in 21 cases. In citizens reports take place also reports for tension and irregularities such as interference and presence of state police forces.

You can find Citizens Report at ZA’LART by clicking the category Reports.

The use of public sector have been identified in cases of the presence of administration staff in election rallies by being threatened with their work-position. Examples of it are the staff on the hospitals and health centers that participated in electoral meetings during official work time, leaving patients with no care. Such cases  are reported in: Librazhd, Fushe Arrez, Mirdita and Berat.

Escalating cases of use of public sector are found in municipalities where the current mayors re-run for the position. Other problem is the attempt to recruit the young voters in public schools, as in: Vora, Rrëshen, Kukes, Kamëz and Lezha.

Observation have been made on the issues of facilities provided to CEAZ Centers for the use of public building. Reports indicate these building in mos of the cases are unsuitable for the election process  like for example high school buildings which in June 19, 48 hours before the voting day have to be available for the maturity state exam.

So far there have been 21 cases of Vote Buying reports. Cases which are not confirmed and the amount offered is never transparent and given the experience with ZA’LART during 2013 such events scored a high intensity in the last week of the campaign.

Information and social networking portal of  ZA’LART are:

➤ WEB: http://zalart.al

➤ FB: ZA’LART – Raised Voice Albania (community)

➤ Twitter – ZA’LART @ZaLartAlbanian

➤ YouTube – ZA’LART 2015

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Make Elections Count

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The ZA’LART 2015 project will enable the civil monitoring of, and reporting on, the electoral process of 21st of June. The program slogan is Make Elections Count and it aims at encouraging citizens to be critical and denounce problems that damage the elections! ZA’LART works as a web and app mobile, inviting citizens to monitor and report any problems and abuse they see in relation with the electoral process in real time. Reporting is easily applied within a few seconds, preserving the citizens’ anonymity. Every report or denouncement shall be crosschecked by the Ad-Hoc Editorial Team composed of local journalists and volunteers trained for fair elections and democratic culture.

We invite you to follow us and join reporting on ZA’LART 2015 platform through Web, App Mobile, FB: ZA’LART – Raised Voices Albania (community), Twitter ZA’LART@ZaLartAlbania; and You Tube.

The ZA’LART Team is open to cooperate with the institutions, civil organizations and networks operating on monitoring and electoral culture. Anyone interested in being updated about citizens’ reports made on this platform, may register on the Merr Sinjal (Receive Notification) section, selecting the area or the category of violations, in which he or she is interested. All citizens’ reports shall be published and available on the map of ZA’LART platform (70 reports made one week ahead of the campaign).

ZA’LART is also being conducted in the framework of the civil society initiative to coordinate fair elections 2015 – Election Situation Room. Everything is being done with the contribution of the citizens, moderated by the Albanian Institute of Science (AIS), with the financial support of the Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA) and the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program of the US Embassy in Tirana. Its opinions, findings, and recommendations are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of its Financial Supporters.

You may contact us at any time, and are welcome to actively join ZA’LART !

Thank you!

ZA’LART 2015 Team

Konkursi “Historia Ime e Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike”

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“Kërkohen e-Qytetarë Aktiv!”

Konkursi Online “ Historia ime e e-Pjesëmarrjes” kërkon të mbledhi sa më shumë histori personale të qytetarëve të cilët kanë përdorur instrumentat e pjesëmarrjes elektronike të BE ose kombëtare për të influencuar politikë bërjen dhe për të bërë ndryshim në jetën e tyre dhe të të tjerëve. Ne duam të dëgjojmë nga ju ! Na tregoni rreth eksperiencës tuaj ( pozitive ose negative ) të përdorimit të instrumentave të e-Pjesëmarrjes dhe fitoni mundësinë për t’i ndarë personalisht me politikan të BE në Bruksel. Nuk ka rëndësi nëse jeni një aktivisti i shoqërisë civile  që i përdorni instrumentat dixhital çdo ditë apo sapo jeni njohur me e-Pjesëmarrjen dhe me të ashtuquajturën “politikë-bërje” nga kudo.

Na tregoni historinë tuaj në një ese të shkurtër ose video. Historia juaj do të shfaqet në një përmbledhje të historive dhe mund të fitojë një ftesë në konferencën “e-Pjesëmarrjen nga perspektiva e të qytetarëve” në Bruksel në dhjetor 2015.

Ky Aplikim është i hapur nga 7 May deri në 31 Gusht . Fituesit dp të informohen për rezultatin në mes të Shtatorit.

Rregullat e Konkurimit :

Çdo qytetar i BE dhe çdo qytetar nga e gjithë Europa në moshën nga 16-116 vjeç mund të konkurroj. Ju mund t’a paraqisni historinë tuaj ose në format të shkruar (një ese e shkurtër me 500 fjalë) ose një video 3 minutëshe (mund të jetë e ndërtuar në formën e një interviste duke ju regjistruar ju duke treguar eksperiencen ose dhe duke e inskenuar ngjarjen ). Historia juaj duhet të jetë e lidhur qartësisht me Pjesëmarrjen elektronike dhe duhet të keni përdorur instrumenta të Pjesëmarrjes elektronike për ta zgjidhur problemin ose arritur rezultatin e dëshiruar.  Duhet të tregohet në një formë interesante dhe përfshirëse. Pikë shtesë do të jepen historive që kanë përdoruar instrumentet e pjesëmarrjes elektronike në nivelin e BE.

Ju duhet ta dorëzoni historinë përpara 31 Korrikut duke përdoruar formen e aplikimit (https://tceurope.wufoo.com/forms/konkurs-historia-ime-e-epjesamarrjes/) në shqip.  Të gjitha esetë do të vlerësohen sipas kritereve të vlerësimit dhe fituesi nga Shqipëria do të zgjidhet dhe ftohet sëbashku me 11 qytetarë nga vendet e tjera të përfshira në program për të ndarë eksperincat e tyre në politikë-bërje në Bruksel.

Historia duhet të shkruhet dhe dërgohet në stil të lirë në formatin word ose pdf dhe duhet të mbuloj pikat e mëposhtme :

  • Pse? Cili ishte motivimi juaj ??
  • Cilin instruement të pjesëmarrjes elektronike keni përdorur?
  • Ishte një problem individuar apo një problem i përgjithshëm ? Sa njerëz u përfshinë dhe influencuan ?
  • Cili ishte rezultati ? Ishte impakti ? përfitimi individual apo më gjërë?
  • Ishte eksperienca juaj e parë e ktij lloj ?

Apliko këtu : https://tceurope.wufoo.com/forms/konkurs-historia-ime-e-epjesamarrjes/

Training with Media Representatives

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Announcement: Training with Media Representatives

The Right of Information on Election Financing Entities

Distinguished Journalist,

Our organization AIS, promoter of Open Data Albania, with the wish on civil society – media partnership, will conduct the training on the topic: The Right of Information on Electoral Financing Entities. This activity will be organized in the framework of Money, Governments and Politics, a project of information, transparency and citizens’ participation.

The Right of Information on Electoral Financing is provided by the Constitution. Fulfillment of this right is closely connected with its quest. Journalist and civil activist have an important role in the transparency process of Electoral Financing. The training aim to enable media representatives, increase the legal culture and knowledge on the topic. Therefore we invite prominent journalists in reporting during the electoral process, and investigative journalist, to register by expressing their interest to be trained. Registration deadline: until 4 of May. Selected candidates will be notified about the participation:

Trainers will be experts of Information and Electoral Financing Rights. The training is one day, and it will be held in Tirana, on May 9, 2015. Activity is supported by USAID / Albania through ASSIST Impact.

Please make your registration according to this Form:

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For any detail contact Blerta Tuci, project coordinator at AIS.

Thank you in advance,

Aranita BRAHAJ

Executive Director

Dita Europiane e Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike / e-Participation Day, 7 Maj 2015

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Instituti Shqiptar i Shkencave (AIS) , më datën 7 maj 2015 , ora 10,në ambjentet e Librarisë Tirana Times (pranë shkollës 11 Janari) , organizon një forum të hapur me të rinj, për Ditën Europiane të Pjesëmarrjes Elektronike /e-Participation Day. Ky event realizohet në kuadër të Programit eUROPA for Citizens në njëmbëdhjetë vende të Europës. AIS bëhet pjesë e këtij programi si partner i rrjetit Telecentre Europe, një rrjet organizatash me qendër në Bruksel, e fokusuar në çështje të edukimit dhe përfshirjes dixhitale të qytetarëve.

Programi i e-Participation Day:

  • Prezantim i Broshurës dhe Instrumenteve elektronik të Komisionit Europian për pjesëmarrje qytetare, e-Participation.
  • StartUp i konkursit My e-Participation Story.

Broshura është një publikim i përkthyer në dymbëdhjetë gjuhë evropiane, si dhe në gjuhën shqipe. Ajo përcjell informacion mbi instrumente që mundësojnë pjesëmarrjen qytetare për informim dhe reagim. Instrumenta të ndërtuara për të ndihmuar qytetarët të komunikojnë dhe të dëgjohen nga përfaqësuesit zgjedhur prej tyre

Instrumentat

Një prezantim i instrumenteve elektronik funksional në Bashkimin Europian si:

  • e-Peticioni i Parlamentit Europian
  • Dialogimi me një Anëtar të Parlamentit (MEP)
  • Konsultimi Publik i Komisionit Europian (Your Voice in Europe)
  • SOLVIT
  • Puzzled by Policy
  • Iniciativa e qytetarëve Europian.

Konkursi.

Titulli i Konkursit është My e-Participation Story. Pjesëmarrësit duhet që brenda datës 31 korrik 2015, të shkruajnë dhe postojnë në formë elektronike një histori personale të ndodhur gjatë udhëtimit apo qëndrimit në një nga vendet e BE. Historia nuk duhet të përmbajë më shumë se 500 fjalë dhe duhet të rrëfejë një problematikë të hasur, nëpërmjet përdorimit të teknologjisë së informacionit. Pjesëmarrës mund të jetë çdo qytetar. Fituesi merr titullin “e-Participation Ambassador” për Shqipërinë , si dhe fiton të drejtën e një udhëtimi me qëllim prezantimin e ese-së  së tij/saj në një event i cili do të mbahet në Bruksel në muajin Dhjetor.

USAID/Albania through Assist Impact supports AIS project: Money, Government & Politics

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USAID / Albania and Assist Impact are supporting eight civil society projects to empower democracy. In a special ceremony held on 16 of April, was the signing of grant support agreements. One of the wining projects was that of our organization, called: Money, Government and Politics. The Executive Director Ms, Aranita BRAHAJ signed the agreement on behalf of AIS. Through this project is aimed the promotion of transparency and civic reaction, release of data on the assets declared by senior officials and judges, as well data on assets and public expenditure.

The Ambassador of United States of America in Tirana Mr, Donald LU present at the ceremony emphasized the value of civil society groups in Democracy. In his welcoming speech Ambassador Lu stated that: “The Albanian Government, local governments and private businesses should understand the value of civil society groups and take responsibility to financially support and encourage them. Without a strong civil society, no democracy can be really successful”

Assist Impact is implementing a three-year project for USAID / Albania, entitled “Human and Institutional Capacity Building”. The project aims to support non-governmental organizations, governmental agencies and business associations, in improving their skills and work.

As part of this project, Assist Impact, through a competitive process, has selected eight organizations from all over Albania. The goal of the grant is to increase the participation in decision-making, the role of the community and the accountability of public officials.

USAID+ASSISTIn the picture, the US Ambassador in Tirana Mr, Donald LU with grant beneficiaries.foto 1In the picture, the Ambassador Donald LU and the Executive Director of AIS Ms, Aranita BRAHAJ during the grant ceremony.foto 2In the picture Ms, Aranita BRAHAJ signing the grant agreement.foto 3

AIS participated at Personal Democracy Forum for Central and Eastern Europe

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Albanian Institute of Science became part of one of the most important events in Europe dedicated to Technology for Democracy and Active Citizenship. Personal Democracy Forum took place in Poland between 16 and 17 of April.

The topic of this year My Country: Open, Digital, Civic, reflected the interest of exploring how society in different regions, are integrated into the digital age. States are under pressure by citizens for openness and transparency. The forum brought together representatives of non-governmental organizations, activists, public administration officials and journalists from more than twenty countries.

AIS team was represented by Besjana HYSA and Blerta TUCI. Blerta TUCI Project Coordinator of AIS was one of the main panel speakers and presented: Money, Government and Politics, a project for transparency, innovation and civic participation. The presentation prompted the interest of a wide audience with over two hundred participants from prestigious institutes in Europe and other continents.

Money, Government & Politics through the opening of data for decision makers, public transactions and concessions, was estimated as a model of inspiration for civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. Publications in Spending Data Albania were considered as consolidated cases of use of technology for Democracy and Civic Activism.

  • Personal Democracy Forum is an annual conference on how technology is changing politics, government and civic life which started in America in 2004, and took place in Poland for the first time in 2013. Since then, PDF POLAND CEE has become the biggest European event dedicated to technology, democracy and civic engagement.

 

Presentation link: https://prezi.com/6ovttsbsob83/money-governments-and-politics/#

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Money&Power: Publishes data about the assets, incomes, and expenditures declared by high level officials in politics and judiciary.

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At the portal Open Spending Albania on the section Money and Power (One Stop Integrated Data Source) publishes data about the assets, incomes, and expenditures declared by high level officials in politics and judiciary. Such data were either declared in a certain year or before the public official took office. In any case, the respective documents contain the date in which it was submitted to the High Inspectorate of Declaration of Assets in Albania (HIDAA). Such declarations are made not only by the public officials themselves, but also by their family members, who are subject to declaration in accordance with the national legislation. Annual declarations contain information about the incomes of the respective year, properties gained during the declaring year, and expenditures, which according to the law, should be declared. The high public officials subject to such declaration include: the President of the Republic, Members of the Council of Ministers, and Mayors of main Municipalities, Members of Parliament, high-level Judges, Chief Prosecutor, and directors of independent institutions. The information they declare is published and made transparent in order to inform the public about the economic interests and assets of the high public official, who represent and govern the country. The data published under Money & Power are interlinked with those published under the Open Corporates Albania on business companies declared by individuals. The data for each individual includes the index number of the reference document submitted to the High Inspectorate for the Declaration of Assets in Albania (HIDAAA).

Albanian Institute of Science is looking for associates

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Albanian Institute of Science in the framework of a better territorial implementation of its programs is looking for associates, mainly for media correspondents from different regions of Albania. Specifically, from cities/towns such as: Mirdita; Malësi e Madhe; Bulqizë; Mat; Kurbin; Kamzë, Peqin; Lushnjë; Kuçovë; Urë Vajgurore; Poliçan; Gramsh; Maliq; Devoll; Mallakastër; Skrapar, Kolonjë, Përmet.

These associates must be residents in one of the cities/towns mentioned above, and have a good comprehension of democratic values and culture. An essential criterion for our associates would be the experience and education in journalism; communication; public relations; social and political science. It is important for them to be able to act as active citizens in raising awareness. Their commitment will be in certain months and period of the year, based on the themes and activities of the organization.

If you would like to join our activities and gain experience on a program of a high social and media impact, please contact at: [email protected].

“Open Corporates Albania” in the framework of the International Open Data Day

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Albanian Institute of Science has organized on 21st of February 2015 the workshop “Open Corporates Albania” in the framework of International Open Data Day.  Different journalist, economists and IT engineers discussed at Protik ICT Resources, Tirana, about the benefits and challenges of the Open Corporates Database. The aim of this workshop is to raise awareness about open data with special attention to the concessionary companies Data journalism, technology-fueled transparency and consistency of the data were some of the main issues discussed in this workshop. Special attention was given to the use of this database as being the largest database containing information about the corporates in Albania.

By filtering information according to the company type, status, data and many other characteristics, the database is simple to use and offers great facilities which harness the power of ICT to enable transparency and accountability.

For more information see: Open Corporates Albania

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