We Are Watching You Map Promoted in Sarajevo

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Last Saturday, September 29, the Citizens’ Action association promoted the “We are Watching You” map on the Wilson’s Promenade (Vilsonovo šetalište) in Sarajevo. Activists distributed leaflets informing the public about the need to control the election campaign activities of political parties and to protect public spaces from pollution.

Citizens' Action leaflet

The Map aims to collect as many photographs and video recordings of political posters and banners posted against existing regulations. We are Watching You database is available to browse and use. For information on the procedure for posting photos or videos, visit this link, and for additional explanations or instructions, contact Citizens’ Action at akcija.gradjana@gmail.com. You can send us your photos or videos at that address, too. Once the evidence about harmful activities is collected, it will be submitted to competent communal authorities to take proper legal action.

All available space gets "decorated" with campaign posters

The reported violations are based on the BiH Election Law which states, in Chapter 7 – Rules of Conduct in Election Campaign, Article 7.2 – (3) Competent authorities shall not allow to political parties, coalitions, independent lists and candidates to place ads, posters or write their names and/or slogans or other campaign material inside or on the outer walls of buildings that house administrative and governance bodies in all levels of government, buildings of public enterprises, institutions or local communities, religious buildings, public roads and spaces, apart from locations provided especially for posters and ads.

Dustbins are the proper storage place for incorrectly placed campaign posters

All slots of land and space intended for public use shall be considered public spaces, including: public transport spaces (streets, roads, squares, passages, stairwells, bridges, parking lots, pavements, trails), public green spaces (parks, flower pots, fenses, meadows, riverbanks, playgrounds, fields), bus station and bus stop platforms and the surrounding land, petrol stations and surrounding lots, open markets and space surrounding retail facilities, public fountains, recreational areas, sports facilities and surrounding equipment and space, non-developed public spaces, garbage containers, public lighting posts, construction sites’ fenses, etc.

Citizens' Action in action

During last elections, several actions were implemented to document harmful activities, leading to political parties responsible for those violations paying total fines of 8000 BAM. Since Citizens’ Action wants to avoid to be associated by the public opinion with any political party, it believes that the involvement of public opinion in the process of collection of data and evidence is of key importance.