IDFI calls on public bodies to proactively public information

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Institute of Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) calls on Parliament, courts and other public bodies to act according to all the procedures of proactive publishing of information. 

FYI, 1 September 2013 in Georgia comes into force proactive publishing of public information and possibility of electronic requesting of public information from number of public bodies.  According to 26 August decree, starting 1 September proactive publishing standard must be implemented by government, ministries and public bodies under their authority (LPPLs and sub-body structures.) 

IDFI reports that own normative acts on rules for proactive publishing of public information and approval of standards of electronic request of public information have already been approved by:  Dusheti Municipality Sakrebulo, Central Election Commission of Georgia, President of Georgia, LPPL Center for Development of Election Systems, Reforms and Training, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and Tbilisi Sakrebulo.  Still, some of them did not consider the list of public information for proactive publication, as set by government. 

“For example, in its decision Tbilisi Sakrebulo completely ignores issues of financial transparency, President’s Decree does not include obligation for publication of information on management of reserve funds and so on.  In addition, rules of electronic requesting of publication often differ,” IDFI letter reads. 

Normative acts falling under the law have not been approved by: Parliament of Georgia, Georgian Courts, Adjara and Abkhazian Autonomous Republics’ governments and Supreme Councils, self-governments and self-governing cities, those Legal Persons of Public Law that are not governed by Georgian ministries (regulatory commissions, National Bank, State Audit Service and etc.) 

IDFI calls on those bodies and authorities who have not yet done so to adopt and publish the normative acts falling under the law according to Article 28, Part 2 of General Administrative Code and Articlce 37, Part 4 of the General Administrative Code:

 

1. To fulfill obligations taken by law and immediately approve rules for proactive publication of public information and standards for electronic requesting of public information;

 

2. When approving rules for proactive publication of public information administrative bodies must act according to the 26 August Decree #219 of Georgian Government;

 

3. When developing normative act administrative bodies must coincide the list of public information for proactive publication with the list given in 26 August Decree #219 of Georgian Government;

 

4. When approving standard for electronic requesting of public information administrative bodies must act according to the Article 4 of the 26 August Decree #219 of Georgian Government.