Involvement Of Local Authorities Research Articles

Exploring theory-generating expert interviews: implementing ECtHR judgments by local and regional authorities

This conference paper explores the methodology and findings of a survey conducted to gather insights on the implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgments by local and regional authorities. The study employs a combination of email and face-to-face interviews to collect data from specialists in human rights and municipal issues. The paper discusses the rationale behind the survey methods, including the advantages and challenges of each approach. It also presents the survey questions and outlines the selection criteria for participants. The findings shed light on the perceptions and recommendations of experts regarding the involvement of local and regional authorities in upholding human rights standards. The paper concludes with implications for policy and practice in promoting human rights at the local level.

A One Health approach toward the control and elimination of soil-transmitted helminthic infections in endemic areas

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) pose significant health challenges, particularly in developing countries. Over 2 billion people are estimated to have been infected with at least one STH species. These parasites rely on the soil for part of their life cycle and are transmitted to humans through ova ingestion or skin penetration. Key risk factors include poor water, sanitation, hygiene practices, limited healthcare access, and poverty. Globally, STHs are primarily controlled through chemo-preventive deworming of high-risk groups in moderate (where prevalence of STHs is between 20 % and 50 %) to highly endemic areas (prevalence >50 %). Despite the use of deworming to control the STHs in endemic areas, infections still occur. The aim of this article is to explore the potential for enhancing STH control and elimination as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in endemic areas through an integrated approach—the One Health approach. The current control program has a single strategy of chemoprophylaxis; in the integrated approach to control of STHs, the parasite control strategies besides being based on the epidemiology of the parasite (endemicity), also include strategies based on the biology (transmission cycle) of the parasites and human behavior patterns in endemic areas. Through the involvement of local communities, healthcare authorities, and stakeholders, participatory approaches foster collaborative efforts to devise and implement control measures. By integrating this integrated approach into existing healthcare and educational initiatives, more effective results can be achieved. The promotion of health education, clean water access, improved sanitation, and hygiene awareness can further enhance control strategies and reduce STH prevalence sustainably. Here, we highlight the benefits of adopting an integrated (One Health) approach to tackle STHs in endemic areas. Through community empowerment and multi-sectorial collaboration, we can strengthen our collective efforts to combat STHs and alleviate the burden of these NTDs.

The developmental role of tourism in rural areas

Rural areas in the Republic of Serbia occupy about 85% of the territory, where about 55% of the total population lives, while in the Republic of Srpska rural areas occupy about 95% of the territory and about 83% of its population lives in them. Rural tourism is a common name for various activities and forms of tourism that occur outside cities, ie urban areas and those areas where mass tourism has developed. It is conditioned by the tourist attractions that are located in these rural areas. The importance of rural tourism is reflected, above all, in the very important interaction of agricultural production, traditional agri-food products, presentation of traditions, traditional gastronomy and tourist services, and the use of already existing resources. Considering that the statistics of rural development capacity in Serbia and Republic of Srpska are based on estimates, it is assumed that a significant part of overnight stays, which are realized in spa and mountain areas, can also be treated as realized overnight stays in the field of rural tourist offer. Observing the general state of rural development in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, it can be noticed that there are a number of limiting factors that condition the unenviable position of the rural tourist product on the tourist market. Some of them are as follows: low level of achieved quality of services provided, insufficient knowledge of new approaches to rural economy development in both competitive domestic and foreign tourism markets, lack of adequate institutional framework to ensure the coordinating role of the state and greater involvement of local authorities. in integrated rural development, poorly developed infrastructure, inadequate diversification of activities, dominance of sectoral policies. Respecting the census of agriculture and the statistical definition of agricultural holdings, the importance of a rural tourist household, ie a household located in a rural area and engaged in tourism, or as a more appropriate name for a tourist family farm must be mentioned. In addition to tourism in rural tourist households, in rural areas we encounter many special forms of tourism. Tourism in rural areas equally includes the activities of tourists (multi-day visitors) and excursionists (one-day visitors). Rural tourist households are generally considered to be basic rural tourism. However, for the development of rural tourism, not only rural tourist households are sufficient, but also other facilities on the rural tourist household itself and in the rural area. Other catering infrastructure is also needed: rooms and canopies for serving food, rooms for wine tasting, brandy, fruit and vegetable products, arranged approaches to the rural tourist household and parking lot, arranged tourist attractions (real, tourist available), restaurants, defined wine and brandy roads, marked bicycle and hiking trails, pilgrimage routes, receptive tourist agencies, ie designed and organized rural tourist destinations are needed, with all possible feasible contents of the tourist rural product. The quality of the rural tourist offer is affirmed as an important factor only in the new age, after it has been in the background for a long time, ie in the shadow of quantitative values. For each destination or company, it is important to be competitive in order to successfully sell their products on the market, and enable loyal tourists. In order for the quality to achieve its true level of development, certain specific circumstances should be determined, and that, along with modern technological development, is a very intensified competitive competition, especially pronounced on the global market.

10.Q. Workshop: Ukrainian refugees in Europe: tackling challenges in health needs and access to health care

Abstract Because of the Russian invasion, nearly 8 million refugees fleeing Ukraine have been registered across Europe of whom 90% are women and children. Ukrainian refugees’ health and access to health care is a concern of utmost importance in this context; and a critical public health challenge for the European countries. To undertake this task knowledge is needed on how Ukrainian refugees experience problems related to health, wellbeing, and access to health care services in host countries. Yet, knowledge is scarce on general health needs, health reception and access to specific services among Ukrainian refugees in European countries. In this context, our workshop intends to bring together four projects that shed light on health needs and well-being of Ukrainian refugees in different European countries as well as the organization of support and access to healthcare systems. The workshop is structured in a first part with presentations and a second part with an open discussion involving the audience. Each presentation will last a maximum of 8-10 minutes. The first presentation concerns health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees in the UK including the role of initial health assessments and local authority involvement. The second presentation addresses Ukrainian refugees’ wellbeing, adaptation and use of health care services in Denmark. The third presentation highlights health and healthcare needs among refugees from Ukraine arriving in Norway during 2022. Finally, the fourth presentation is also from Denmark adressing general practitioners’ assessment of Ukrainian refugees arriving to Denmark. In the last part of the workshop, the chairpersons will open a discussion with all workshop participants in order to exchange experiences. The discussion will focus on how to support research and public health interventions targeted Ukrainian refugees including which areas need urgent focus. By learning from each other, this workshop aim to inform public health researchers and stakeholders on challenges and possible solutions to the important public health problem of Ukrainian refuges health. Key messages • Cross-country sharing of public health knowledge regarding Ukrainian refuges health. • Adressing public health challenges and possible solutions regarding Ukrainian refuges health.

Ensuring health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees in the UK: the role of initial health assessments and local authority involvement

Abstract Since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine, local authorities in the UK have facilitated the resettlement of over 150,000 Ukrainian refugees (as of February 2023) to the country. In this presentation, Anna Deal will discuss a UK case study based on her recent research working closely with local authorities in London to conduct a health and wellbeing needs assessment, exploring the situation facing Ukrainians and other key nationality groups on arrival. This presentation will focus on identified health and social needs of Ukrainians and current healthcare provision, including initial health assessments and catch-up vaccination delivery, for Ukrainians on arrival and how this varies under different local authorities. It will conclude by summarising key challenges faced in delivery of services and recommendations and implications for improving service delivery, both in the UK and other European countries hosting Ukrainian refugees.

Evaluation of Storage and Disposal of Household Waste in the City of Kinshasa (Communes of Lemba, Mont-Ngafula, and Kisenso) and Awareness of Eco-Citizenship

This study aims to analyze and describe the characteristics of household waste in the communes of Lemba, Mont-Ngafula and Kisenso in Kinshasa, while raising awareness of ecological citizenship. The study was conducted from April 17 to May 3, 2023, with a sample of 690 households, 138 randomly selected from each community. The main methods used are survey, interview and observation in the field.
 The results show that household waste management in the cities studied does not contribute to sustainable development. Most households use garbage cans, mainly buckets and bags, but waste sorting is rare, except in the Kindele area. The most common waste disposal methods are inappropriate local disposal and incineration. The most common methods of waste disposal are disposal in inappropriate locations and incineration. Average waste weights vary by neighbourhood, with values ranging from 8.67 kg to 13.99 kg per household. It has a significant correlation between the total weight of waste generated per household and household size.
 The findings of the study indicate that the state of household waste management in these cities is worrying, with adverse consequences for the environment and public health. Proposals include new laws to regulate waste management, integration of waste management into urban development plans, establishment of landfills and public awareness of sanitation rules and the principles of waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Developing effective and sustainable strategies to address household waste management in these communities in Kinshasa is crucial. The involvement of local authorities, stakeholders and citizens is essential to protect the environment.

Doing public health differently: How can public health departments engage with local communities through social media interventions?

ObjectivesThis paper evaluates a collaborative intervention between public health professionals and local social media administrators, in which the social media site Facebook was used with a view to strengthening engagement with and, dissemination of, core messages and building trust and resilience within local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study designA qualitative design was used, exploring the research question: how does collaboration between public health professionals and local social network group administrators create community engagement during a global crisis? MethodsFourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with public health staff and online group administrators. Data was analysed using framework analysis. ResultsCollaboration between public health professionals and local group administrators created both opportunities and challenges. Local group administrators had wide reach and trust within the local community, but message credibility was enhanced through local authority involvement. Such collaborations contain inherent tensions due to perceived risks to social capital and independence but can be successful if receiving strong risk-tolerant support from the local authority. Findings are discussed in the context of Bourdieu's theory of social capital to examine how public health information can be delivered by trusted social media actors in communication tailored to the local community. ConclusionsSocial media provides new channels of communication for delivery of public health messages, enabling new ways of working which create long-term engagement and community building. Although the intervention was developed quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants felt it could be mobilised to address a wider range of issues.

Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index: From Theoretical Definition to Practical Analysis in Romania

The competitiveness of tourist destinations presents, from the perspective of sustainability, certain benefits in terms of local and regional development: the involvement of local authorities (city, local and county councils, population) in the conservation of tourist resources, the involvement of tourism agencies in the promotion of rural areas, the creation of brands for each tourist destination/region and the protection of cultural-historical heritage from degradation. Competitiveness, as a segment of sustainability, integrated in Romanian local communities, is necessary in order to offer tourists an unmistakable experience of the natural and anthropogenic tourism potential of destinations, to raise the population’s awareness, to preserve traditions, customs and habits and to practice tourism based on sustainability, awareness and without any pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to highlight the image of Romania’s tourism competitiveness, which could support the tourism economy in the long term, by analysing the Global Tourism and Travel Competitiveness Index (TTCI) in Romania, compared to two other neighbouring countries, Bulgaria and Hungary. The Global Competitiveness Index provides an integrative picture of the main sub-indices that interfere in the formation of a country’s competitiveness, with insights on the 12 pillars that intervene in the sustainable development of tourist destinations worldwide.

The Role of Local Government in the Bottom-Up Energy Transformation of Poland on the Example of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship

This article focuses on the role of local government in energy transition. The aim of this article is to answer the question of whether local government authorities undertake actions aimed at the energy transformation of the region. This article is based on both literature studies and independent research. The empirical research was carried out in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, located in Southwestern Poland. This region was chosen because it experienced the negative effects of economic transformation (liquidation of the Lower Silesian Coal Basin). Two hypotheses (H1 and H2) were adopted in the article. H1 assumes that in Polish conditions, bottom-up energy transformation requires the involvement of local authorities, and they should act as both initiators and shareholders of energy cooperatives. According to H2, local authorities participate in the energy transition to a limited extent. According to the conducted surveys, there has been no investment in wind farms, hydroelectric power plants or biogas plants. Communes are not interested in large, capital-intensive investments, limiting themselves to local actions with a small spatial range and small economic significance, although they are aware of the advantages of RES.

A sustainable solution to manage ecosystem health of wetlands in urban and peri-urban areas of Lucknow district, India using geospatial techniques and community based pragmatic approach

Wetlands are multi-functional landscapes between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems that provide habitat for wildlife, support groundwater recharge, moderate climate, control flood and fulfil the livelihood of the communities. Rapid population growth, urban expansion, and industrialization have caused the degradation of wetlands over the last few decades. The wetlands located in the urban and peri-urban areas are generally the most threatened ecosystems globally. The present study assessed the ecosystem health of urban and peri-urban wetlands of Lucknow district in India and recommended a sustainable solution for their management. Remote sensing data derived from the normalized difference vegetation index, modified normalized difference water index, and land use/land cover change were utilized for analyzing the spatiotemporal change in areas under wetlands, from 1989 to 2018. Site-specific indicators on pressure, state and response were integrated in FRAGSTATS-based assessment to construct a Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model. A qualitative field survey has been conducted through focus group discussion and expert opinion to validate the result from the PSR model. The results revealed that the overall health of the wetlands has deteriorated drastically in these peri-urban areas owing to anthropogenic activities. The wetland ecosystem's health is significantly correlated with land transformation. The study recommended community participation, and involvement of local authorities in storing rainwater, constructing culverts and channels, and interlinking them with wetlands for sustainable conservation and effective management of the wetland ecosystem.

Нормативное обеспечение и оценка доступности оториноларингологической помощи детям и подросткам

Diseases of the ear, throat, nose in children and adolescents are one of the most pressing public health problems due to their high prevalence and medical and social significance, both in our country and abroad. The condition for increasing the effectiveness of otolaryngological care for children and adolescents is to ensure its accessibility. P u r p o s e : analysis of regulatory support and assessment of the availability of medical care for children and adolescents in the field of otorhinolaryngology. M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s . Methods of legal analysis, expert assessments, as well as expert, mathematical-statistical and analytical methods were applied. F i n d i n g s . Studies conducted in 2022 on the basis of children’s polyclinics in the city of Ramenskoye, Moscow Region, revealed “bottlenecks” in the legal regulation of the issues of access to medical care for children and adolescents in children’s polyclinics. A methodology for an integral assessment of the availability of otorhinolaryngological care for children and adolescents in the conditions of children’s polyclinics has been developed. The deviation of the integral evaluation index according to the proposed method by 18,0% relative to the optimal level was revealed, which requires involvement of local authorities in solving problems.

Involvement of Local Authorities in the Protection of Residents’ Health in the Light of the Smart City Concept on the Example of Polish Cities

According to the modern guidelines of the Smart City (SC) concept, smart cities are not only cities that are above average in terms of technology, but first and foremost are focused on the needs of their residents. A key need for quality of life is taking care of health, including education, prevention, and access to medical infrastructure. In the context of the given circumstances, this article seeks to answer the following research question: What is the level of involvement of local authorities in protecting the health of residents in Polish cities in the context of the Smart City concept? The involvement of local authorities in healthcare is considered in five aspects: (1) monitoring of residents’ health needs; (2) health education; (3) preventive healthcare; (4) healthcare infrastructure; and (5) environment and recreation. To obtain answers to the above research problem, surveys were conducted at the local government level in 399 Polish cities. The research utilized statistical measures of central tendency, indices of variation, and measures of interdependence. The results allow formulating the following key conclusions: (1) most of the surveyed cities do not monitor the health needs of their residents, contrary to the recommendations of the SC concept; (2) cities take measures to protect the health of their residents, but these are focused on sports and recreation; (3) the most neglected health areas are health education and environmental and climate protection. The level of involvement of the city authorities in protecting the health of residents is therefore quite low and is mainly image-related. The lack of monitoring of the expectations of the local community has a negative impact on the effectiveness of healthcare activities and the real improvement in the quality of urban life. Meanwhile, according to research results, cooperation with residents and care for meeting their needs is an important determinant of the effectiveness of healthcare. Given the above conditions, it is difficult to be effective both in terms of improving the quality of life of residents and developing fully sustainable smart cities. The research also shows that the involvement of the city authorities in holistic pro-health activities increases with the size of the city, which means that larger entities are more aware of cooperation with stakeholders and the importance of health for quality of life. Therefore, they are better prepared to implement the assumptions of the Smart City concept. The originality and scientific value of the conducted analysis will help fill the research gap in identifying the health determinants of Smart City development and assessing the involvement of city authorities in protecting the health of residents in a multifaceted perspective.

Percepções do governo local e dos residentes sobre os efeitos do desenvolvimento do turismo rural: Levantamento no Condado de Suceava na Romênia

ABSTRACT: Rural tourism has received more and more attention because it can contribute to increase the living standard in some rural areas, stimulate local economy and reduce the urban-rural gaps. At the same time, the preference for this type of tourism is growing, but for the efficient use of the existing potential, the involvement of local authorities and residents is needed. This paper revealed the perceptions of human resources in local government institutions and of residents in Suceava County - Romania to identify the effects of tourism development on the administrative process, living standards and natural environment. The undertaken questionnaire-based research showed that the degree of tourism development positively influenced the level of improvement of the public affairs management process in the respective administrative-territorial unit, as well as the standard of living of the local community. Regarding the influence of tourism development on the environment, the recorded results showed that the intensification of the tourism phenomenon does not strongly threaten the local environment, but it is necessary to raise awareness of the environmental impact.

POLICY OF SOCIAL SECURITY OF COMBATANTS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The article examines foreign models for the formation and implementation of the social security policy for combatants. In the article, based on the analysis of foreign experience, the task of preparing recommendations for improving the domestic state social veteran policy was solved. In the course of the study, a comparative method was used, as well as structural-functional, methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, modeling, and others. The article illustrates the features of social policy in relation to combatants in countries such as Croatia, South Korea, the United States and Israel, representing veteran social policy in different regions of the planet.
 Foreign experience in the formation and implementation of the social security policy for combatants indicates a variety of models - from the creation of a separate central executive authority - to the functioning of individual units within the defense or social ministries. A joint characteristic of foreign models of veterans' social policy should be recognized as the involvement of local authorities in the implementation of meeting the social needs of combatants on the ground and the widespread introduction of public-private partnership mechanisms. We recognize as excellent characteristics the involvement of the resource potential of the state and the private sector – from concessional lending to activate veteran businesses and social adaptation – to direct financial social payments, which depends on the level of economic development of the state and the focus of social attention on this particular category of the population. This approach provided an opportunity to formulate evidence-based recommendations for improving the national veterans' social policy in two directions: 1) strengthening the institutional capacity of the central executive authority (Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine) and 2) developing a policy of local communities on social security and stimulating entrepreneurial activity of combatants actions in the prospects of research on this issue, attention is paid to the legislative support of the above-mentioned areas.

Renaissance of villages for the revitalization of marginal areas

There is now a clear disparity between major cities and villages located in marginal areas of Italy. Progressive depopulation of inland areas and urban polarization such as consolidated territorial dynamics are difficult to dampen and adapt to the new paradigms of sustainable territorial development, although they have been abruptly redirected by the Covid 19 pandemic. The instability created by this pandemic offers the opportunity to redefine new parameters of intervention and new scenarios for the development of territories in relation to the new needs of decentralization and physical distancing. The project “Renaissance of villages for the revitalization of marginal areas” aims to create the conditions to repopulate and rebalance shrinking territories by establishing new centers of attractiveness. This project envisages the active involvement of municipalities and local authorities with the aims at implementing the multi-sectoral analysis of the tangible and intangible values of territories. It intends to develop an interactive web dashboard to be provided to municipalities in order to create both a learning environment and a spatial decision support system for future local policy actions towards a sustainable participatory local development. In this way, it is proposed a functional method with a place-based approach to managing the existing territorial complexity through innovative models of territorial governance and policymaking, among them the effective implementation of participatory and multi-actor visions of territorial development. Specifically, this paper provides the Italian villages’ archetypes through the quantitative spatial cluster multivariate analysis, which is the basis for the construction of the dashboard. To cluster the villages, the main variables have been identified, assesses, and mapped. The results are fundamental in order to define the future scenarios for each archetype assessing the Key Performance indicators (KPIs).

A More Welcoming Climate: How Basic Income found better Traction in Holyrood than in Westminster

Basic income has moved tentatively on to the UK agenda since 2015, but it has struggled to find a foothold in Westminster, where the dominant view of poverty is as the result of failure in the labour market, and the response remains coercive welfare conditionality. In Scotland, government-funded research into the feasibility of basic income pilots has drawn on health and well-being priorities and civic and local authority involvement, while making an explicit connection between poverty, agency, health and wealth. This article draws on literature and semi-expert interviews to argue that the nature of Scottish political institutions and culture, allied to a Nationalist party government keen to differentiate itself from Westminster, with independence as short-term or long-term goal, has created an unusual policy space that provides the conditions for basic income as a pivoting reform. While implementation of a Basic Income may be impossible without full independence, Scotland is creating an ideational climate where – unlike south of the border – it at least looks feasible.

Commentary: After the flush: What is the best fecal waste management system for Addis Ababa?

• Management of faecal waste. • diversity of system in this case. • Involvement of local authorities. • Possibility of using this waste management system in education.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SMART-CITY TOOLS AS A RESPONSE TO CHALLENGES IN SOCIO-HUMANITARIAN FIELD IN UKRAINIAN METROPOLISES

The article investigates theoretical foundations of public management in the socio-humanitarian sphere of metropolises based on the smart city concept. It defines the essence of the concept of "public management in the socio-humanitarian sphere" in a metropolis, which should be considered as a multi-branch and inter-sectoral complex formed with the involvement of local authorities, business partners, the public, and citizens, and aims to create, maintain, and develop a favorable safe environment as a unified system of life and livelihood of the city based on the balanced development of the main sectors of the economy and socio-humanitarian sphere. The abstract also defines criteria for the efficiency of public management in the socio-humanitarian sphere within a modern metropolis, which include integrity, sustainability, and security of the subjects in obtaining a positive effect of solving socio-humanitarian issues within a metropolis. The main mechanism of public administration in a metropolis is establishment of interaction in the triad "power - business - community" and coordination of their interests (business - "here and now", community - "the welfare of our children", the state - "the welfare of citizens"). It is confirmed that the digitalization of public administration contributes to strengthening control over the use of all types of resources for the optimal development of the socio-humanitarian sphere of Ukrainian cities.

Towards a Smart Community Welfare as a response to the housing emergency

The implementation of a social housing network requires the adoption of welfare policies within a shared national regulatory framework, as well as new organisational, design and community models, enabled by the pervasiveness of ICT, in order to allow a paradigm shift in the dualistic structure of the real estate market. Following an analysis conducted on several levels and the involvement of local social housing authorities, we identified guidelines that are both programmatic – in the context of policies for the home – and project-related – regarding the physical and digital space, able to foster peculiar social-care relationships. In this perspective, the integration of the domains considered (smart, community, welfare) could promote an alternative social housing network.

The Role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the State’s Promotion of the “Traditional” Family as Part of Family Policy

Since the 2010s, the Russian government has promoted a family model in its family policy – a heterosexual married couple with three children – explicitly defined as “traditional”. This definition is close to the representation of the family by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which, since the 2000s, has positioned itself as an actor in family policy, in particular through the establishment of “The Committee of Patriarchs on the Family, Child Welfare and Motherhood” serving as an intermediary with the State. I show that the ROC and the State offer comparable family models and that they work closely together in the implementation of family policy. I show how the Russian government and the ROC support religiously motivated actions, including promotional events such as the creation of new holidays and restrictive measures such as limiting the right to abortion. I conclude that the demographic crisis led Russian family policy in the 2000s to combine a natalist dimension with a traditionalist dimension that values a family model based on ROC values. This work is based on official documentation and the results of a field work conducted between 2015 and 2018 in the Ulyanovsk Oblast. I conducted interviews with two categories of the population: officials of different governmental structures directly related to family policy and ROC priests. The choice of this region was motivated by the involvement of local authorities and ROC representatives in the realisation of the objectives of the federal family policy.