On November 18, 2010, Lena Nazaryan, Project Assistant of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center participated in a seminar "Accountability mechanisms for environmental protection and human rights in international financial institutions and European Union funded projects" organized by Central and Eastern Europe Bankwatch Network and National Society of Conservationists (Hungary) in Budapest. When used effectively by civil society, accountability mechanisms can protect the public interest and find solutions to problems caused by projects.

The event aimed to initiate a dialogue among representatives from accountability mechanisms at the international financial institutions, the EU and Hungarian Ombudsmen, Aarhus Convention Secretariat, Hungarian civil society organizations and others from south Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), to share experience in working with these mechanisms and promote their functioning to all attending stakeholders.

The seminar was an opportunity to strengthen the ongoing dialogue among civil society representatives and present international accountability mechanisms for protecting the environment and human rights. Accountability mechanisms are an expression of the development of democratic systems, addressing a wide array of issues ranging from access to information, environmental protection, human rights and compliance with policy, procedure and law.