SHORT DESCRIPTION

Initial cue

Vienna is an international metropolis with great diversity in lifestyles, convictions and points of view. Young and old, women and men, people of differing sexual orientation, natives and immigrants, people with and without handicaps all live here together. The Vienna Charter process was about working out basic principles and rules for living together satisfactorily. The special feature of this project: the people of Vienna identified the issues themselves, and took an active part in shaping the Charter in debates. Nothing was dictated – the City Council facilitated this process and provided a framework for it. The Charter was worked out by the people of Vienna.

Goals

People were meant to meet and discuss together via the online platform charta.wien.gv.at and in the Charter debates; they should have opportunities to discuss how communal life can be improved. The participation process, which went through several phases, led to an independent, voluntary agreement about rules for living together and about treating one another fairly and with respect.

Sequence of events

Phase one of the participation process (gathering topics) started on 19.3.2012 and lasted two weeks (till 1.4.2012). Anyone could raise issues connected with community life in Vienna on line or on the phone. A total of 1848 topics were collected; the Charter's independent consultative committee grouped these into three main areas (and seven subdivisions): 1) Getting along together, 2) Not always the same, 3) Feeling at ease in tidy surroundings.

These topics were debated in the Charter discussions from 13 April to 14 October 2012, and on line from 28 September to 14 October 2012 as well. It was possible for organizations, firms and individuals to arrange such discussions. The city administration provided facilitators for the discussions, and the latter transferred the discussion findings to the on-line platform.
The text of the Charter was made public in November 2012; both it and the discussions and contributions are available at charta.wien.gv.at.