The “Right of Access to Information in Cyprus” project is an EU-funded initiative that aims at advancing the right to know in both the northern and southern parts of the island of Cyprus.
The project responds to a generalized lack of information in Cyprus about the latest European and global developments on the right of access to information. It aims to stimulate civic action to improve government transparency and foster citizen participation.
Reconstruction of understanding and trust between the various communities in Cyprus as well as increased democratic participation by members of both communities is contingent on access to information: civil society needs information in order to exercise their rights, to obtain public services on a non-discriminatory basis, to participate in decision-making, and to hold the authorities accountable between as well as at elections. This project provides the basis for promoting increased and equal access to public information and public participation in Cyprus island-wide.
The project is based on an open and collaborative approach to human rights and good governance issues. This approach is embodied in the bi-communal coalition that has been launched as a part of the project. The Open Cyprus Coalition, founded by the main project partners (KAB, IKME and Access Info Europe) now includes several other civil society organizations across the island, who actively advocate for a full and functioning right of access to information in Cyprus that complies with the highest international standards.
