FOI Closing Conference

On 4-5 December, 2004 the United Nations Association Georgia (UNAG) arranged the conference on closing the second stage of the project- Promotion of Implementation of the Freedom of Information Chapter (FOI) of the General Administrative Code in Public Institutions.

The project has been implemented by the UNAG in cooperation with  IRIS at the University of Maryland under the financial support of  United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project goal was activating the usage of the FOI chapter in public institutions and thus increasing the efficiency of public servants’ work in compliance with the principles of FOI of General Administrative Code. It has piloted the endorsement of the Freedom of Information chapter in Public Institutions throughout Georgia, including 7 regions, 15 rayons/towns and 7 villages.

Within the framework of the project four model documents, were designed in three languages- Georgian, English, Russian and were distributed Georgia-wide. Currently 165 target public institutions apply the model document –  Job Description of the Officer Responsible for Provision of Public Information and 155 target public institutions expressed their will and readiness to compile and submit Report of December 10th for the year 2004.

The package of 27 draft laws and the draft law on “Dues for copying public information” has been prepared by the UNAG and discussed with the Committee of Legal Issues of Parliament of Georgia. The committee in its turn will use the authority provided by the Constitution and address the Parliament of Georgia with legislative initiative to examine the prepared draft amendments for passing. Upon completion of extensive activities amendments to draft laws will be made in accordance with General Administrative Code.
 
The Closing Conference aimed at the presentation of the project outcomes to public as well as discussion of issues related to the endorsement of General Administrative Code.

Conference participants: representatives of three branches of the state – executive, legislative and judicial, non-governmental organizations and mass media, were involved in extensive discussions, developed valuable recommendations regarding code introduction and expressed their willingness for further cooperation.