Asparez Journalist Club
On September 23rd of 2003 the Armenian National Assembly adopted a law on the "Freedom of information" which was intended to be a practical mechanism for ensuring the transparency and accountability of officials and as a tool for public participation in local governing processes. Unfortunately most of the citizens were not aware of this law and the rights that they have thanks to it. Very often officials are dishonest and not responsible in providing necessary information to the citizens. The situation is generally worse in the regions (marzes) than in the capital city area. Citizens remain uninformed about the activities, structures and decisions of Regional Administration offices and local governmental authorities.
This
project aimed at raising awareness of the people living in 12 cities of
Shirak, Lori and Tavush regions (marzes), the officials of the
institutions of the public, community and state importance, the lawyers,
the workers of judicial system, the journalists working in the above
mentioned territories and NGOs about the content of the Freedom of
Information law and about the responsibilities and rights that they gain
in the framework of this law. The main goal of the project was that all
the officials recognize their responsibilities towards the population
in the frames provided by this law, be available for the people and
become more accountable towards the society.
The project components are the following:
- To raise awareness on RA law on freedom of information among general public in North of Armenia, PSA production and distribution to Local TV stations for including in their programs;
- To provide practical knowledge on the application of the FOI to the parties responsible for its implementation, as well as those interested in gaining access to information;
- To realize special experiments on RA FOI law use, benchmarking the law topics on public officials duties and responsibilities by law, creation litigations in cases irresponsible officials;
- To receive the information and disseminate the information of public importance
By way of seminars, TV debates, print advertising, leaflet campaigns and promotional publications, as well as launching lawsuits deemed to be in the public interest, the project implementer "Asparez" journalists' club intends to inform the population, journalists and officials about the law and explain how it can be used by citizens to oversee the management of their local municipality.
In the last one and a half years with the following activities were carried out to achieve the objectives outlined above:
- 24 educational seminar workshops in project area communities for totally 568 participants. The seminars were organized in the regions on the topic of FOI law implementation.
- 5000 copies of the "Republic of Armenia Freedom of Information law explanation and implementation manual" colourful booklet were produced, designed and published.
- 2000 copies of the Republic of Armenia Freedom of Information law explanation and implementation poster were produced, designed and published.
- 10 TV debates were conducted In Gyumri, Vanadzor, Noyemberyan, Alaverdi, Tashir, cities of Shirak, Lori, Tavush regions. These debates focused on local and central governments accountability, Republic of Armenia Freedom of Information law, rights and duties, Republic of Armenia Freedom of Information law implementation skills, statistics and successes stories of litigations on Freedom of Information issues, etc.
- 549 letters were sent to schools, local authorities and other entities requesting information which are public under the Freedom of Information.
- Two court cases concerning access to information were initiated by the Asparez Journalists Club against state institutions.