Introducing Mechanisms of Civic Deliberation (SK0144)

Background situation or problem addressed by the commitment: Many people in society rightfully feel voiceless and powerless to influence decisions that impact their lives. Trust in experts is declining, misinformation is spreading, and political polarization, partly driven by electoral incentives, weakens social cohesion.

Content of the commitment: The commitment aims to collaborate with partners from civil society to adopt best practices involving various mechanisms of civic deliberation from abroad, e.g. citizen assemblies. Simultaneously, in collaboration with representatives of public administration, the goal is to test a selected method of civic deliberation on an identified significant societal challenge/issue. Conditions for the pilot testing will be predefined and communicated, including the level of commitment from the public administration to the outcome of the citizen assembly. The process of the pilot testing may be supplemented with additional participation tools. Fulfillment of the commitment will also include discussions with the responsible public administration regarding the implementation of the outcome of the citizen deliberation.

How the commitment will contribute to solving the problem: To preserve democracy, it is increasingly important to include the voices of residents in the formulation of public policies through new and transparent avenues. Mechanisms of civic participation provide an opportunity to create a diverse and inclusive deliberative public space, where collective recommendations can be formulated based on the random selection of participants. Collective input from residents is particularly crucial in an increasingly individualized society.

Relevance of the commitment to the principles/values of OGP: The commitment is an innovative reinforcement of the principle of participation, including participation with a special emphasis on inclusivity.

Additional information: The topic receives substantial support through the international thematic cohort "Deliberative Democracy and Civic Assemblies" within the Summit for Democracy. It supports Slovakia's participation in the Summit for Democracy under the goal of "Supporting cooperation between civil society, the public, and the government."

Milestones of the commitment with specific tasks:

1. Support the transfer of knowledge and expertise with mechanisms of civic deliberation from abroad to the environment of public administration and civil society in Slovakia. Responsible agency - ÚSV ROS, deadline: by September 30, 2024.

2. In a participatory manner, organize a selected type of a civic deliberation on a significant societal challenge in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. Responsible agency - ÚSV ROS, deadline: by June 30, 2026