OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports public discussion on implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information
Implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information was in focus of the public discussion organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information, on 11 December 2015, in Podgorica.
The aim of the event was to inform representatives of institutions, non-governmental organizations, media and citizens about the importance and mechanisms for exercising the right to free access to information, to familiarize them with proactive approach to information and procedures in accordance with the Law. It also aimed at providing a platform for an open discussion on implementation of the Law, challenges and best practices.
“Free access to information is one of the most important preconditions for democratization of the society; it represents a tool for empowering citizens in the decision-making process and its proper implementation is an indicator of institutional transparency and accountability,” said Samra Čampara, Media Programme Manager at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.
Muhamed Gjokaj, President of the Council of the Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information, stressed that free access to information requires great dedication and commitment to the work. “The Agency took further steps in order to achieve the set goals, including transparent society and independent institutions that guarantee the right on data protection and free access to information.”
Members of the Agency’s Council, Aleksa Ivanović and Radenko Lacmanović presented the work of the Agency, while representatives of the non-governmental organizations Network for Affirmation of Non-governmental sector (MANS) and the Centre for Democratic Transition (CDT), Vuk Janković and Đorđije Brkuljan presented experiences of their organizations.
The discussion was organized as a part of the OSCE Mission’s project supported by the Government of Netherlands, Switzerland and Czech Republic.