NGO presents public fund protection charter

A newly set up non-governmental association "the national body for the protection of public funds" presented to the press on Tuesday a charter for the protection of public funds, awaiting the defining of a work framework.

The charter insists that the construction of a democratic society depends on the laying down of solid and balanced foundations of public funds management and organization of the state and administration's relations with the tax payers.

Protecting public funds is at the same time a duty and a right for citizens, says the charter, and the rule of law has to guarantee this, in conformity with the international covenants on human rights and economic, cultural and social rights which stress the citizens' rights to information, to participation in the management and control of public life and their rights to ask for accounts.

The document also urges for the creation of efficient mechanisms for the protection and control and to end economic and financial offenses.