The development of civil society is closely intertwined with the activities of public organizations. In Ukraine, this pattern has become particularly relevant, as it is representatives of the public sector who are the most active participants in the country's social, economic, and political life. However, the specificity of the activities of the majority of public associations is that in different periods it manifests itself differently. Similarly, in Volyn, the public sector during its existence has experienced periods of rise and decline.

One of the reasons for the decrease in public activity and the reduction of the influence of public organizations on the situation in the region, in our opinion, is the lack of consolidation within the ranks of the public sector. Existing supra-structures, in the form of various unions, councils, or other forms of associations, do not fulfill their mission; they are ineffective. Public organizations do not see each other, they "lock themselves" only into their own activities and act "alone." Instead, many issues could be resolved, or at least brought to the fore, through the consolidated action of various organizations. The public sector has few opportunities to influence decision-making and the activities of local executive authorities and local self-government bodies. Existing mechanisms for involving public organizations in the formation and implementation of regional policy, such as various public councils under government bodies, are ineffective. In the majority of cases, public organizations do not influence the procedures for the formation and adoption of decisions by the authorities and are used by the latter only to "approve" already prepared decisions. The implementation by the authorities of various programs and measures is carried out without public control over them by public organizations. The determination of the authorities' social priorities, and subsequently the distribution of funds for their implementation, is not carried out fully transparently. A shortcoming in the activities of public organizations is that they are not guided in their work by ethical principles common to all, such as democratic governance, openness and transparency, responsibility, cooperation, and partnership. Because of this, there is distrust among public organizations and a lack of understanding of a common goal. A problem for the public organizations of the region is their weak institutional capacity, in particular the lack of premises for carrying out their activities.

However, all the above-listed problems are not a reason for passive observation of the existing state of affairs. These issues can and should unite the public organizations of the region; to resolve them, new principles and mechanisms of interaction and activity of the public sector of Volyn need to be developed.

Having studied the experience of public organizations in other regions of Ukraine and taking into account the results of the discussion of this topic during the round table "New Standards in the Activities of Public Organizations – a Step Toward Development," which took place on April 23, 2009, in the city of Lutsk, we propose a number of initiatives:

1. Initiate the activity of a Public Club – a kind of public platform for constant communication, a certain non-formalized platform through which organizations will be able to discuss current issues, plan their activities, develop and implement joint initiatives to activate the public movement. The principles and purpose of this club's activity should be agreed upon at the first joint meeting. 2. Introduce the practice of participation of representatives of public organizations in the meetings of standing deputy commissions, especially during the consideration of profile programs. 3. For representatives of public organizations that are part of public councils under various government bodies to take the initiative for the activity of these bodies into their own hands and more actively use these institutions to influence the activities of the authorities. 4. Begin monitoring the use of public funds in the implementation of city, district, and regional programs of support for public organizations and the activities of local executive authorities and local self-government bodies in their implementation of youth, gender, sports policy, and other nationwide programs 5. Conduct monitoring of the information resources of government bodies to study the possibilities of access for citizens and NGOs to information about the activities of government bodies, in particular about youth, gender, sports, and other programs and their funding. 6. Develop and submit to the relevant government bodies for approval proposals on improving the procedures for holding project competitions for public organizations at the city and regional levels. 7. Develop common ethical principles for the activity of the public sector of the region. 8. Develop common principles of cooperation with the media in order to popularize public activity among the residents of the region and inform citizens about the activities of the third sector. 9. Develop a program to support public activity in the district centers of the region. 10. Bring to the fore and lobby before the authorities the issue of allocating premises in the regional center for shared use by public organizations of the region.

This is part of the issues that have long required resolution. And it is public organizations that must take up their resolution. We realize that no organization alone will strengthen all these issues. That is why we call for the implementation of these initiatives through the consolidated activity of public associations of our region. For our part, we declare our desire to work in the declared directions and our readiness for cooperation with all public associations of the region that set as their goal the implementation of the above-listed initiatives.

15.05.2009 p. Lutsk

VOMGO "Association of Young Reformers (AMoRe)" Mykhailo Shelep VOGO "Volyn Press Club" Bohdana Stelmakh VOGO "Gender Center" Oksana Yarosh GKG "Partner" Serhii Adamchuk VOGO "Association for the Protection of Youth Rights of Volyn" Iryna Omelchuk TsMHOV "Nasha Sprava" Vitalii Lipich