On 7th of May e-Participation Day took place in Latvia. The day was organized by LIKTA (Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association) in cooperation with Latvian Library network (represented by Culture Information systems centre) and e-Participation portal www.manabalss.lv.
Latvian Library network involves 874 municipal public libraries. Libraries are equipped with broadband wireless internet, guaranteed free use of the internet, state-of-the-art computers and specially trained employees.
ManaBalss.lv is a social initiative platform, a 100% legitimate way to submit an initiative, gather supporters and present finished initiatives to the Saeima (parliament). An initiative can be submitted and signed by any citizen of the Republic of Latvia who is at least 16 years of age, after authorizing through a state-registered online bank.
National and European e-Participation possibilities and online tools to participate in the policies and policy-making were presented during the e-Participation day in Latvia. e-Participation day activities took part in different Latvian regions. Different activities for youth, seniors and farmers were organized in libraries all across Latvia.
Besides the introduction of the European e-Participation tools, the librarians were invited to present the possibilities of online participation in national policy-making. Librarians presented e-Participation possibilities in their libraries and municipalities as well as introduced the audience to the national e-Participation portals www.manabalss.lv and www.mansprezidents.lv.
National NGO forum
On 17th of April, LIKTA presented the project „Enabling European e-participation” in National NGO forum in Riga, Latvia.
More than 40 participants took part in the conference. The aim of the conference was to introduce NGO leaders to e-Participation tools available in EU and Latvia, how they make their voice to be heard, by using ICT tools.
Also representatives from different sectors told about latest tools and technologies that are helpful to make NGOs’ work more effective.
Webinar – Latvia getting ready for e-Participation day
In order to introduce regional libraries to the project goals and e-Participation tools a webinar was organised on 27th of April. 37 libraries joined the online seminar supported by Microsoft Latvia. Plans for 7th of May have been discussed and agreed. All webinar materials are available online: http://eprasmes.lv/e-lidzdalibas-vebinars-27-04-2015/
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