OSCE Mission to Skopje supports publication of handbooks on access to information
(OSCE/Borce Manevski)The OSCE Mission in Skopje helped produce two handbooks on promoting free access to media, 28 September 2006. (OSCE/Borce Manevski)
SKOPJE, 28 September 2006 - Two handbooks with guidelines on access to public information and the responsibilities and rights of officials were presented in Skopje today to mark Right to Know Day.
The publications were produced by the local NGO Pro-Media in co-operation with the National Commission on Access to Information and supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.
"The benefits of free access to information are obvious: a more responsible media, an active civil society involved in decision making, transparency in governance, and a reduction of corruption, all of which will result in increased public trust in government and state institutions," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission.
Klime Babunski, President of Pro-Media and one of the authors of the handbooks, said: "Our country has come a long way in terms of protecting the right of any person to know. We have already adopted the Law on Access to Information and established a National Commission on Access to Information."
Janko Nikolovski, the President of the National Commission on Access to Information, added: "Implementing the law is a lengthy process, but I am confident that these publications will be a useful guide for officials and for any citizen seeking information."
Right to Know Day is celebrated in several countries on 28 September each year. It marks the right of individual access to information held by public bodies and the benefits of transparent, accessible government.
The publications were produced by the local NGO Pro-Media in co-operation with the National Commission on Access to Information and supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.
"The benefits of free access to information are obvious: a more responsible media, an active civil society involved in decision making, transparency in governance, and a reduction of corruption, all of which will result in increased public trust in government and state institutions," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission.
Klime Babunski, President of Pro-Media and one of the authors of the handbooks, said: "Our country has come a long way in terms of protecting the right of any person to know. We have already adopted the Law on Access to Information and established a National Commission on Access to Information."
Janko Nikolovski, the President of the National Commission on Access to Information, added: "Implementing the law is a lengthy process, but I am confident that these publications will be a useful guide for officials and for any citizen seeking information."
Right to Know Day is celebrated in several countries on 28 September each year. It marks the right of individual access to information held by public bodies and the benefits of transparent, accessible government.