Citizen participation as a core principle of human rights and a condition for effective democratic practices was highlighted by the Chair of the Current Affairs Committee of the Congress, Bryony Rudkin (United Kingdom, SOC/G/PD), at the opening of the OSCE conference on “Participation of citizens in decision-making at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina: towards a meaningful partnership”, held in hybrid format, in Sarajevo on 30 November 2023.

“The greatest transformative potential for our societies lies at the local level, and it is there, closest to our citizens, where we make the most visible impact”, stated Bryony Rudkin.

"Our shared vision for inclusive, human-rights-based local democracy requires ongoing efforts to amplify everyone’s voices, particularly those unheard, continuous engagement with citizens in all stages of policymaking, and embracing diversity and innovative approaches in doing so", she concluded.

The interplay of traditional and innovative elements for greater citizens’ contribution to decision-making was also in the focus of the conference. Deliberative democracy, including the example of the Congress flagship initiative Mostar Citizens’ Assembly, was underlined as an innovative method to strengthen representative democracy and complement other forms of citizen participation.

The conference brought together local authorities, civil society, and international actors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and neighbouring countries, who discussed participatory mechanisms, good practices, and ways to foster more resilient, inclusive, and responsive local democracy.