Public Participation (Otevřená Společnost)

Open It (Otevřete.cz)

   The project's Web Pages: www.otevrete.cz

The project aims to support people to take an active part in public issues, particularly by using the right to information, promote people's ability to participate in the public decision-making process, enhance the transparency of that process and raise public awareness on how to protect their right to access information. The project also aims to enhance people's motivation to use these rights.

History

On January 1, 2000, Act No. 106/1999 Coll. on free access to information took effect. Under this Act, state and local authorities shall provide information falling under their remit. In other words, legislation gives people their right to access to information according to Articles 17 and 35 of the Bill of Human Rights and Freedoms, and introduces the principle of publicity and openess of state administration.

Aktivities

• The web pages at www.otevrete.cz are a valuable source of information on free access to information in the Czech Republic both for the general public and state authorities. The site contains: a database of compulsory entities, or bodies that have the duty to give information, details about legal cases involving the violation of Act No. 106/1999 Coll., plus a database of judgments, legal analyses and analyses of cases including frequent mistakes in the process of implementation.

• The competiotion called Otevřeno x Zavřeno (Open x Closed) is part of the international initiative FOIANet Freedom of Information Advocates Network *: each year, the major “friends“ and “enemies” of the freedom of information and transparency among Czech state authorities are anounced. Why not join in? Should you or your friends have any good or bad experience with state authorities when exercising the right to information – appoint your candidate! Read the rules of the competition and send us an e-mail to nominace@otevrete.cz.

• We published a book called Another 106 answers to your questions (including judicial decisions) explaining Act No. 106/1999 Coll. on free access to information. The book aims to make this issue more understandable to public, to offer the alternative ways of implementing the law in different situations, explaining what is the duty of the staff working at state and local authorities. Main goal is to help exercise efficiently the right to information as a tool for monitoring the administration of public affairs.

*Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIANet) is a free platform for sharing the ideas and information supporting the individual's right to access to information and supporting the open and transparent administration of public affairs.

Contact

Jana Mravcová (jana.marvcova@osops.cz)

Oldřich Kužílek

Mgr. Šimon Hradílek

The Project is funded by

Open Society Fund Prague (www.osf.cz)

US Embassy (www.usembassy.cz)

www.scio.cz, s.r.o. (www.scio.cz)

Gentiana, v.o.s. (www.gentiana.cz)