Tuesday 19 March 2024 | 02:26

Elena Tonkacheva: Anti-terrorist Concept doesn’t have any implementation parameters

05.08.2013  |  Society   |  Zmicier Kazlouski, EuroBelarus,  
Elena Tonkacheva: Anti-terrorist Concept  doesn’t have any implementation parameters

Without cooperation with the civil society it will be difficult for the state to implement recently adopted Anti-terrorist Concept.

Such an opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared Elena Tonkacheva, human rights activist and the head of the Legal Transformation Centre “Lawtrend”.

Anti-terrorist Concept  was adopted by the Council of Ministers’ decision No. 658 after July 25 and put on the National Data Portal.

Elena Tonkacheva said that Legal Transformation Centre welcomes the adoption of this document and considers it to be an important step in treating terrorism by means of legal principles on the part of the state.

However, the expert also recalled that any concept should be supported by certain implementation parameters: “In this document I haven’t found the answers to the following questions: what will the success indicator be? In what way will monitoring and evaluation as well as concrete actions, necessary to implement the Concept, be carried out? Who is going to be responsible for that?” – wonders Elena Tonkacheva.

It’s not only about evaluation

The Concept has an interesting thesis, which says that the inner source of terroristic threat can be “relaxation of patriotism and traditional moral values among youths” for a variety of listed reasons. In this connection Elena Tonkacheva suggested to not only give evaluation of the Belarusan civil society development, but also pay attention to how Belarusan state resolves this situation.

“At post-Soviet area many states realize the role and the importance of the civil society and admit that strong civil society furthers the development of the country, overcoming inner barriers and tensions, integration of socially vulnerable groups. That is why such countries adopt the Concepts aimed at the strengthening of the civil society”, - recalled the expert.

Patronage of the untalented and weakening of the active

“In Belarus the situation is absolutely opposite. On the one hand, we have a number of public organizations under the state’s patronage, incapable to relieve social tension; on the other hand, we see the whole set of civil society actors, which have visible difficulties in their relationship and build-up of positive communication with the state bodies”, - admits Elena Tonkacheva.

The head of the Legal Transformation Centre emphasized that the fact that Belarusan authorities don’t show any willingness to cooperate with the part of civil society they cannot control is, perhaps, what weakens civil society. “And when stating the weakness of the civil society in the Concept, the state has to give realistic assessment about the steps it should take in order to provide good basic conditions for the citizens’ activity and the development of NGOs. I believe that here is where the potential to common development lies”.

We shouldn’t give immediate negative reaction

In order to implement the Concept successfully, we need to review the politics towards civil society, believes the head of the Lawtrend: “I stand for cooperation on condition that there is mutual understanding, respect and dialog between the state and the civil society”.

However, can it happen so that the adopted Concept will become an instrument of struggle against the civil society?

According to Elena Tonkacheva, it is difficult to give a well-grounded answer now. “Everything will depend on the application of the Concept, and only after some time passes – a year or two – we will be able to give a well-reasoned evaluation”, - assumes the expert. 

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.