Access to Public Information : Implementation of the Law

1. Access to Public Information: Implementation of the Law

2. Synergy • Achieving Goals at the National Level • Common message • Coordination (monthly meetings) • Communication (an open Google Group, weekly digests) • Information campaign (strong media engagement)

3. Goals • To ensure transparent functioning of Ukrainian authorities • To reduce corruption through public oversight • To stimulate citizens protect their rights using access to information tools • To increase awareness and influence of NGOs through access to information

4. Issues • Local budget transparency • Job security and labor rights protection • Pension and social insurance • Transparencyofpricingof natural monopolies services • Masterplans of Ukrainian cities • Environmental information

5. Open NGO-Coalition • All-Ukrainian Trade Union "People’s Solidarity" • Center of Political Studies and Analysis • Centre UA • Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives "Total Action for the Support of Human Rights and Democracy" • Elite of the State • Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation • Institute of Mass Information • Institute of Political Education • Internews Ukraine • Kyiv Independent Media Trade Union • MAMA-86 • Media Law Institute • POSTUP • The Centre of Civic Advocacy • The Committee of Voters of Ukraine • The Democratic Alliance • The Informational-Legal Centre "Our Right" • The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group • Теlekritika • "TORO" Creative Union - Transparency International National Contact in Ukraine • Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research • Ukrainian Strategy

6. Regional Partners • Carpathian Human Rights Agency "VESTED" (Vynohradiv) • Dnipropetrovsk Coordination and Analysis Center for Regulatory Policy (Dnipropetrovsk) • Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives "Total Action for the Support of Human Rights and Democracy" (Luhansk) • Foundation of Regional Initiatives (Lutsk) • Modern Format (Zhytomyr) • New Generation (Kherson) • Philosophy of Heart (Vinnytsya) • Sumy Regional Committee of Youth Organizations (Sumy) • The Centre of Civic Advocacy (Lviv) • The Committee of Voters of Ukraine (Cherkasy, Donetsk) • The Democratic Alliance (Chernihiv) • The Informational-Legal Centre "Our Right" (Lviv)

7. Activities • Methodology group • Trainings • Information and mobilization campaign • Monitoring the implementation • Legal assistance

8. Methodology group Aim: to provide expert assistance for implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information Problem:reluctanceof public administration to implement the Law on Access to Public Information without public assistance and pressure

9. Methodology group • Delegated legislation (by-laws) • Guidelines for public administration • Advisory assistance for public administration • Advisory assistance for NGOs (projects of members of the coalition)

10. Methodology group • Legislative regulation of the content of state administrations official web sites • Legislative regulation of responding to information requests • Register of public information requests • Advisory assistance

11. Participants • Center of Political Studies and Analysis • Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives "Total Action for the Support of Human Rights and Democracy" • Elite of the State • Institute of Mass Information • Media Law Institute • The Centre of Civic Advocacy • The Democratic Alliance • The Informational-Legal Centre "Our Right" • The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group • "TORO" Creative Union - Transparency International National Contact in Ukraine • Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research • Ukrainian Strategy

12. Trainings Aim: to increase capacity of different target groups to use access to information tools Problem: theLaw on Access to Public Information may not be effective because of incompetence of different target groups

13. Trainings Trainings for trainers Trainings for journalists – how to submit requests and how to appeal in cases of access to information violations Trainings for NGOs – how to use Law on Access to Public Information for benefit of citizens and how to monitor implementation of the Law Trainings for public servants – how to use new legislation properly and effectively to meet European standards

14. Participants All-Ukrainian Trade Union "People’s Solidarity" Institute of Political Education Internews Ukraine Kyiv Independent Media Trade Union Media Law Institute The Democratic Alliance

15. Informationand mobilization campaign Aim: to introduce new rights and possibilities according to Law on Access to Public Information to the broadest audience and to increase civic participation  Problem: citizens indifference and passivity

16. Informationand mobilization campaign Information dissemination (print production, publications and media appearances, outdoor advertising, audiovisual products, newsletters, public lectures, public actions, web-sites, face-to-face meetingsetc.) Success stories film Hotline for citizens Cooperation with international institutions and organizations

17. Participants All-Ukrainian Trade Union "People’s Solidarity" Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives "Total Action for the Support of Human Rights and Democracy" Elite of the State Institute of Mass Information Internews Ukraine Kyiv Independent Media Trade Union MAMA-86 POSTUP Теlekritika

18. Monitoring Aim: public control over the Law on Access to Public Information implementation Problem: the Law may not be implemented correctly because of public servants incompetence and unwillingness to provide information

19. Monitoring • Monitoring the preparation for the implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information, implementation and appeal in case of improper performance • Information gathering, summarizing, development of recommendations • Sociological studies and expert surveys

20. Participants • Center of Political Studies and Analysis • Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives "Total Action for the Support of Human Rights and Democracy" • Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation • Kyiv Independent Media Trade Union • MAMA-86 • Теlekritika • The Committee of Voters of Ukraine • The Democratic Alliance • "TORO" Creative Union - Transparency International National Contact in Ukraine

21. Legal assistance Aim:to provide legal assistance in submitting requests and litigation, to ensure proper implementation of the Law on Access to Public Information Problem: inaccessibility of legal assistance for citizens (including financial aspect)

22. Legal assistance Preparation of standardforms of legaldocuments Legal assistance for citizens in submitting requests and litigations Hotline Media coverage of the trials Public discussion and jurisprudence summary

23. Participants All-Ukrainian Trade Union "People’s Solidarity" Institute of Mass Information Media Law Institute

24. “Citizens create countries – not politicians!”