OSCE supports Ukraine study visit for journalists, civil society experts from Kazakhstan

A group of journalists and civil society experts from Kazakhstan began an OSCE Centre-supported study tour to Ukraine on 21 November 2011 to discuss access to government information, public participation in decision making and media freedom.

Over the course of the five-day tour, the participants, several of whom are members of a working group that is helping to draft Kazakhstan’s new legislation on access to information, will meet with representatives of Ukraine’s Parliament, Government, media, and civil society to learn about the country’s experience in the field of public access to information.

The group will also learn about Ukraine’s experience drafting legislation that is in line with international standards and OSCE commitments. In addition, the group will discuss Kazakhstan’s draft law on access to information, and the media’s role in encouraging public participation in decision-making processes.

“Access to information is a fundamental human right and a key component of a transparent and accountable government,” said Jeannette Kloetzer, the Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “In this regard, we welcome the exchange of experience and good practices acquired by OSCE participating States.”

Adil Jalilov, the Chair of the Media Alliance of Kazakhstan, said: “Ukranian experts noted that the adoption of their access to information law influenced the media sphere in a positive way, and was clearly successful in helping to strengthen public oversight of government agencies. Considering the fact that Kazakhstan plans to adopt its access to information law in 2012, Ukraine’s experience with the development, adoption and implementation of such a law, as well as its advocacy work, deserves close study.”

Jalilov said that recommendations received by the Kazakhstani delegation included requiring each government agency to identify an office responsible for information requests, teaching civil servants about how the access to information law should work in practice, and publicizing the law through public service announcements.

The study tour is part of the OSCE Centre’s work on increasing government transparency and participatory democracy.