Right to Know Day

Youth Initiative for Human Rights

Youth Initiative for Human Rights calls upon Governments of Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia to respect citizen�s right to free access to information of public importance and insists on punishing of those responsible for its derogation.

Public�s right to know how the elected officials are exercising authority, and how citizen tax money is spent, cannot be limited by self-will of particular authority holders.

�Sanctioning of those responsible for violation of this, and other rights also, is of fundamental importance for establishment of responsible and accountable authorities in countries of the region. Concealment of information, secret data, inaccessible files and impervious contracts are the terms which must be left in the past�, said Andrej Nosov, YIHR President.

Nosov demanded sanctions for those who have flagrantly violate this right, like Serbian Minister Velimir Ilic, or Serbian State Security Service director Rade Bulatovic, since their further public engagement is an �insurmountable obstacle to establishment of rule of law and society based on European values�.

The Right to Know Day was established in 2002, and formal celebration of the Day began the year after. During 2006, over 60 non-governmental organisations, Information Commissioners and other bodies responsible for protection of this right, in over 40 countries, marked this day with various activities. By the end of 2007, European Council should adopt European Convention on Access to Official Documents.

During the last three years, Youth Initiative for Human Rights monitored implementation of the laws on access to official documents and information in Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia. During this period, the Initiative sent over 4000 requests to institutions, initiated dozens of lawsuits, and submitted one application to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.