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.
Project activities include holding of working meetings and round tables with civil society organizations to develop a common understanding of the importance of the right of access to information. The project will culminate in an International Conference to be held in November 2011 at which local and international experts will engage with Cypriot civil organizations in a informed public debate on the right to know.
The research activities carried out during 2010 under the project include:
Digital Information Landscape: a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of availability of key classes of information in public bodies’ websites in Cyprus. These key classes are widely accepted internationally as a minimum standard of pro-active transparency, which is essential to ensure good governance, for public participation, and for accountability of public procurement processes.
Opinion Survey: it will provide scientific data on the level of awareness on the right of access to information and attitudes towards issues such as current levels of government transparency, public participation, and government accountability.
Monitoring: In the largest access to information monitoring ever carried out in Cyprus, 418 information requests were submitted to 20 public bodies island-wide. This results provide an empirical assessment of the current state of access to information in practice in Cyprus.
The right of access to information requires a law and implementing regulation to if it is to be enjoyed in practice by journalists, human rights activists, entrepreneurs and citizens in general. Thus, the project team has carried out an analysis of the relevant legislation in the north and in the south. The Legal Analysis is based on internationally recognized standards on access to information, in particular the Council of Europe Convention of Access to Official Documents (2009). The findings of this analysis have lead to a series of recommendations for law reform.
The long-term objective of the project is to contribute to improvements in government transparency and accountability, levels of public participation and openness of public procurement in accordance with international standards. In 2011 the project team will hold several meetings public officials to receive their input on the current state and policies of public bodies on access to information. In addition, a Public Consultation to be held during February to April 2011 will provide key stakeholders and public officials the opportunity to engage in the debate on the right to know and the best mechanisms to advance transparency and public participation in Cyprus.
We want you to be a part of our project so in our website you will find the results of our work for a more participative and informed Cyprus. We also hope you sign up the Open Cyprus Coalition principles or, if you are a private or non-governmental organization, please get engaged with the fundamental right of access to information and become a member of the Open Cyprus Coalition.
