Dickson Delivers Speech to the Congress of Europe Local Governance Conference
On the 8th April, East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, in his position as the First Vice-Chair of the Congress of Europe Monitoring Committee, participated in the online Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Conference “Local Governance Conference - The Work of Cantonal and Municipal Assemblies / Councils during the Covid-19 Crisis”.
In his keynote address, Mr Dickson presented the main findings of a Congress Report on ensuring the respect of the European Charter of local Self-Government in times of major crisis situations and the effect of the pandemic on key aspects of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Dickson emphasised that there is a tendency to recentralise regardless of good practices at all levels of governance. He explained that the pandemic has led to the strengthening of multi-level cooperation, inter-municipal cooperation, and the role of local associations in consultation processes.
His keynote speech also drew attention to the human rights handbook, developed by the Congress, for local and regional authorities. In particular, he highlighted and h focused on social rights, as well as presenting good practices at local and regional level on these issues.
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