Right to Know

Documents · 22/09/2009

The Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on Free Access to Information on 8th November 2005. The Law on Free Access to Information is the one which enables the change in the pattern of relations between the state and its citizens. Enforcement of this law is one of key preconditions in fight against corruption recognised as the single most significant impediment to European integrations.

Since the enactment of the Law, MANS has been monitoring its implementation testing the political will and readiness of government agencies to publicise delicate information to which the public was denied access until now.

The aim of the publication is to draw attention to current problems in access to information filed with public authorities and provide grounds for considering amendments to legislation and enhancing its practical application.

The publication includes a number of practical example with relevant documents offering data on the first 1,000 requests for information submitted between 20th December 2005 and 11th July 2006, while the experience in the application of the Law on Free Access to Information regarding the privatisation process will be published in a separate publication. The database of all submitted requests for information is available at www.pravodaznam.info The development of this publication was supported by the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.