BENCHMARKING FOR PARLIAMENTS

CPA BENCHMARKSCOPA Recommended Benchmarks181 9.1.3 The Legislature shall have a non-partisan mediarelations facility.182 9.1.4 The Legislature shall promote the public’sunderstanding of the work of the Legislature.4.1.2.3 Parliament must have access to resourcesfor helping citizens understand its proceedings.183 4.2.2.1 Parliament must foster a spirit of toleranceand promote all aspects of democratic culturein order to educate and raise awareness amongpublic officials, political actors and citizens aboutthe ethical requirements of democracy andhuman rights.184 4.2.3.1 Laws, proposed legislation, committeereports and any other parliamentary documentprovided for by the rules of procedure must bemade accessible to the public.185186 9.2.1 Where the constitution or parliamentary rulesprovide for the use of multiple working languages,the Legislature shall make every reasonable effort toprovide for simultaneous interpretation of debates andtranslations or records.4.1.3.1 Parliament must facilitate the useof all working languages recognized by theConstitution or in the rules of procedure,including simultaneous interpretation in debatesand proceedings and the enactment of laws in allworking languages.187188 4.1.1.3 Parliament must promote new informationand communication technology and seek out waysin which technological advances could reinforcethe democratic process and improve individualparticipation and decision making.189 4.2.4.1 Parliament must encourage the use ofwidely-available information and communicationtools to broadcast its proceedings.190 10.1.1 Legislators shall maintain high standards ofaccountability, transparency and responsibility in theconduct of all public and parliamentary matters.096 — Benchmarking for Parliaments: Self-assessment or minimum criteria?