Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej MW Pivot Skin

WATCHDOG ORGANISATIONS – these are (most often) → non-governmental organisations whose statutory goal is the civic control of public authorities or, less frequently, the business sector. A watchdog is a term that literally means a guarding dog. The watchdog activity carried out by these organisations means civic control over the broadly understood institutions of power – the general goal is to look after the public interest. These are initiatives of civil organisations and the media consisting in observing the activities of institutions and public figures leading to increased transparency and the rule of law of public life. This control has first and foremost a qualitative dimension. W.o. monitor the way money is spent, the legislative processes, reliability, honesty and efficiency of the authorities, but also seek to change the situation. In particular, they deal with issues such as the observance of human and civil rights, the rights of disabled people, anti-corruption, as well as issues related to the operation of coercive forces (police, special services) and prosecutors and courts – in terms of respecting the rights of the detained, the use of coercive measures, surveillance and eavesdropping, the integrity of court proceedings, the conditions of isolation sentences, etc., civil liberties (freedom of speech, association, assemblies, etc.). In the area of public administration, the interests of w.o. most often concern access to → public information, protection of citizen’s data, equal treatment during the provision of administrative services. The supposed effect of watchdog activities (especially at the local level) is determining whether there exist such phenomena as: lack of procedures regulating certain areas; distortion of the implementation of existing procedures; abuse of power to pursue individual interests; improper treatment of clients . W.o. often work on the basis of a developed methodology, using similar techniques as social sciences – participant observation, document analysis, questionnaire or focused interviews. They usually avoid (as other non-governmental organisations) contractual relationships with administrative bodies, but they participate in public consultations, advisory bodies, support actions of courts (“friend of the court”) or ombudsmen. W.o. operate at both national and local levels. They also cooperate extensively with international organisations for the protection of human rights. In Poland, the beginning of watch-keeping dates back to the end of the 1980s, when the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights was established on the basis of the Helsinki Committee. In the 1990s, Polish non-governmental organisations were broadly interested in the problem of corruption. The Polish watchdog movement is supported by the Association of Civic Network – Watchdog Poland, which organises training courses for guards and prepares publications on watchdog activity. [D. Długosz]

Literature: K. Batko-Tołuć, K. Izdebski, Organizacje strażnicze w Polsce. Stan obecny, wyzwania, perspektywy [Watchdog organisations in Poland. Current status, challenges, perspectives], Warszawa 2012 ■ https://siecobywatelska.pl [access: November 2018].