International co-operation
The Union develops the international activities by:1. co-ordination of programme of establishing first CABs in Western Ukraine
2. Cupertino with CA Citizens Advice in Great Britain, ECAS (European Citizen Action Service),
3. continuous contact with British experts
4. participation in international conferences on citizen counselling (Brussels, Vilnius, Prague, Kiev)
5. co-organisation of international conferences („Citizens Advice and Information Services (CAIS) in enlarged Europe”)
6. organisation of study visits for foreign organisations interested in citizen counselling.
We eagerly share our experience in building a citizen counselling movement in the era of democratise changes, being an experience of Central and Eastern Europe from last years.
We know:
a) how to start
b) what difficulties are due to be met
c) how to adapt the standards of CABs to the needs of clients and to the law
d) how to train the advisers
f) what tools the network needs
We have already hosted representatives of NGOs from: Romania, Belarus, Armenia, Ukraine, and Slovakia, Mongolia, Moldavia and a representative from the China University.
In March 2004 – together with representatives of advice organisations from England, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Lithuania, Czech Republic, and New Zealand – we have established organisation Citizens Advice International.
The aim of the organisation is promotion of free advice services provided by independent organisations to the indigent, representation of interests of its members before international institutions, and creation of a mechanism of exchange of experience.
In May we have signed an agreement on co-operation with Citizens Advice from Great Britain.
In September 2004, UCAB's representative took part in annual meeting of British CABs, held in York. It was an opportunity to learn manners of presentation of organisations' output, new solutions used by Citizens Advice for British CABs, methods of action for introducing changes in social policy, and to watch the manner of organisation of the meeting itself, which was attended by representatives of 500 CABs. The meeting was an opportunity to make many interesting contacts.
26-29 October 2004 – UCAB's editor paid a study visit to Citizens Advice in London. She spent 3 days in CA's information department, learning the process of elaboration of materials for CAB advisers – from the moment of getting information on changes in the law to distribution of materials among the CABs – and 1 day in CABs in London neighbourhood observing how the advisers used the materials.
Pictures:
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Założyciele Citizens Advice International
Created by: Izabela Parczewska, modyfied: Mon Jun 12 14:36:14 2006
