Parliamentarians often serve as bridges between civil society and the government apparatus.
In Chapter XV, the Programme of Action calls for the promotion of effective partnerships between all levels of Government, the full range of NGOs and local community groups as well as international organizations and the private sector. The involvement of civil society in initiating and sustaining social and economic transformation has become essential in the context of economic globalization, privatization, limited resources and the downsizing and decentralization of the government apparatus. The full participation of civil society organizations and leaders will become increasingly critical in order to carry forward the goals of the Programme of Action. Progress made 86. Countries with economies in transition have made special efforts in this regard.