The Participatory Democracy Cultural Initiative, Inc. (PDCI) proclaims its support for the development of Participatory Budget systems as an additional tool for citizen participation in shaping their own destinies. Today, this participatory exercise in economics has spread to more than 7,000 cities worldwide and has been used to decide budgets for states, counties, cities, housing authorities, schools, and other institutions. Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Peru, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Iceland, Finland, United States, Canada and the Republic of Korea are countries where this system is currently spreading and is more common today.

It's time to let the public participate in budgeting Photo: Olivia Alsept-Ellis–Danny Cage, left, with PB Oregon consultant Jim Labbe

Portland, Oregon (Danny Cage).– Portland needs to join the growing list of cities that rely on the 'participatory budgeting' process.

What if communities directly facing these challenges could directly shape the solutions? That is the premise of participatory budgeting (PB), a form of participatory democracy many cities and communities are embracing as a solution to growing inequity, division, and injustice.

Strasbourg, July 22.– The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Conference of International NGOs and the Council of Europe’s Division of Elections and Participatory Democracy, have developed an online platform to promote civil participation. The BePART forum provides a space where local and regional authorities, as well as civil society organisations can share examples of civil participation and exchange lessons learned.

The project is a follow-up to the Revised Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process, adopted by the Congress and the Conference of International NGOs in 2019.

Los entes electorales a diferentes niveles continúan conformándose en Cuba como parte de los preparativos para el referendo popular de septiembre sobre este nuevo Código.

La Habana, Jul.23.– El Presidente Miguel Díaz-Canel calificó de trascendente la aprobación por la Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular (ANPP) del Código de las Familias, que será sometido a referendo social en septiembre.

Aseguró que ese texto, adoptado por unanimidad** por los diputados de la ANPP, desarrolla los derechos constitucionales y "responde a los compromisos internacionales asumidos por Cuba".

 THE FUTURE ARMENIAN is a public Initiative launched by Armenians and friends of Armenia to create a common framework of understanding around the sustainable development of Armenia as a country and Armenians as a nation. Interested parties may engage in the Convention by co-signing the list of 15 goals HERE, participate in further discussions on WHATs and HOWs of The FUTURE ARMENIAN and become part of planning our next steps collectively. Since May 2021 The Future Armenian Initiative has been able to assemble more than 100 000 signatories from around the world. This initiative seeks to foster a dialogue that would lead to a mutual understanding and a future vision for Armenia and Armenians.

The Future Armenian Convention officially kicks off

 Yerevan, July 22 (Dp.net).– On November 11-13 the first Convention of The Future Armenian will be held in Yerevan based on the “citizens’ assembly” model of participatory democracy. The participants of the Convention from the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh and Diaspora will discuss the existing issues and challenges and will adopt package of proposals to overcome those challenges. The convention will be preceded by meeting of expert groups, which will be open for all professionals.

The first convention will focus on three of the 15 goals set by The FUTURE ARMENIAN Initiative. Those goals are the Armenia – Diaspora Unity, Historical Responsibility and Growing Population.

On 7th of July, the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts hosted the launch event of the Convention of The Future Armenian. The ceremony signaled the start of the submission of applications for participation, as well as the beginning of the process of forming expert groups.