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North Macedonia

Awareness-raising about Access to Information Rights (MK0121)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Macedonia Action Plan 2018-2020

Action Plan Cycle: 2018

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: The Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information – CPRFAPI

Support Institution(s): The Commission for protection of the right to free access to public information Center for Civil Communications, German Filkov, gfilkov@ccc.org.mk Association for Women Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality (ESE) Darko Antikj, dantik@esem.org.mk and Open Society Foundation – Macedonia Danche Danilovska, dance.danilovska@fosm.mk

Policy Areas

Capacity Building, E-Government, Gender, Marginalized Communities, Public Service Delivery, Right to Information, Sustainable Development Goals

IRM Review

IRM Report: Pending IRM Review

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Pending IRM Review

Relevant to OGP Values: Not Relevant

Potential Impact: Pending IRM Review

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

Proactive publication, promotion of electronic access and increased awareness of citizens on their rights to free access to public information
Start and end date of the commitment: August 2018 – August 2020
Lead implementing agency
The Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information – CPRFAPI
Description of commitment
Status quo or problem addressed by the commitment
The Law on Free Access to Public Information has been applied as of 2006, but its implementation has been made difficult despite the efforts for its consistent application. The access to information provided through the LFAPI is primarily and dominantly used by non-governmental organizations and journalists. Citizens' awareness of the existence of the right to free access to public information is still very low. The administration's silence remains a serious problem that limits the exercise of this universal human right. The very fact that the basic information that the holders are obligated to publish publicly and are listed in the LFAPI should be requested through a procedure for their obtaining, points to the inaccessibility of this information in an easy and simple way, and speaks of the old manners of operation of the institutions. Also, it is very rare practice to regularly publish the information already provided (in response to requests). In addition, the institutions do not use the benefits for themselves by proactively publishing public information (the opportunity to be more responsible in the work, to implement and promote the principles of good governance and integrity, and to better manage the information they hold), which will lead to trust among citizens in the institutions for their responsibility and transparency. Pursuant to Article 15 of the Law on Free Access to Public Information, the applicant has the right to submit the request for access to public information in electronic form. This manner of submitting requests in practice is rarely applied.
Main objective
Easy, fast and simple access to information that is important for the life and work of citizens via: Proactive publication of information by the holders of information on their websites - Establishment of a functional platform for enabling electronic access to public information and - Improving the level of awareness among citizens regarding the right to free access to public information, as well as increasing the number of citizens who will exercise this right
Brief description of the commitment
Public information holders should publish proactively and regularly on their websites all the information that is indicated in the LFAPI as well as the information they have already provided after a request for an access, while those holders who do not have their own websites should perform this procedure on the websites of the institution under whose jurisdiction they work. The Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information in cooperation with the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women (ESE) will develop and conduct on-site campaign in order to inform citizens regarding their rights for free access to public information. The process for submitting requests for free access to public information and response upon the requests will be facilitated by establishing a functional platform for enabling electronic access to public information. Through this online system (platform), will provide every interested citizen to submit to the holders of information a request for public information, that will easily be found on the platform. The advantage of the platform is that all the information given is publicly published and are accessible to anyone, which means that once the information is given by the holder, this platform will reduce the scope of operation in the institution in case when another applicant is interested for the same information.
OGP challenge addressed by the commitment
Public service improvement
Public integrity increasement
More efficient public resource management
Additional information
Connection to the Global Sustainable Development Goals - Objective 16 "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions", Target 16.10: Ensure access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. The measures under this commitment contribute to the promotion of access to public information via more efficient implementation of laws and better information of citizens.
Milestones:
1.1.1 Pro-active publication of public information by information holders on their websites
Preparation of an indicative list of public information that the institutions should proactively make available on their websites (or on the websites of the institutions under whose jurisdiction they operate)
Compulsory publication of all public information by the information holders on their websites (or on the websites of the institutions under whose jurisdiction they operate)
Monitoring the fulfillment of the obligations by institutions through the so-called Index of Active Transparency prepared by the Center for Civil Communications
1.1.2 Improving the electornic access to public information
Development of a methodology for improving the existing electronic website (platform) for electronic access to public information
Established electronic system for access to information and taken over by information holders for its application
Development of a manual with trainings for information holders, as well as promotion of the platform for its application by the citizens, which will simplify the access to information
1.1.3 Increasing the citizens’ awareness about their rights for free access to public information and increased exercise of that right by the citizens
Developing a campaign implementation plan (identifying municipalities and settlements where the campaign will be implemented, developing content that will be presented to citizens and a format for public presentation, establishing cooperation with local civil society organizations in the identified municipalities; mechanisms for measuring the impact of the campaign)
Conducting a campaign and measuring the effects of the campaign
Contact information
Name of responsible person from implementing agency
Oliver Serafimovski, Coordinator Cveta Trajkovska, Deputy Coordinator Indzi Xhodja, Deputy Coordinator
Title, Department
Junior Associate, Unit for cooperation with information holders and public information Secretary General of the Secretatiat for Commission Junior Associate, Unit for appeal procedure, legal and general affairs
Phone and e-mail
oliverserafimovski@komspi.mk , 071/229-214 cveta@komspi.mk, 071/232-857 inxhihoxha@komspi.mk, 071/229-289
Other actors involved
The Commission for protection of the right to free access to public information
Center for Civil Communications, German Filkov, gfilkov@ccc.org.mk Association for Women Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality (ESE) Darko Antikj, dantik@esem.org.mk and Open Society Foundation – Macedonia Danche Danilovska, dance.danilovska@fosm.mk

North Macedonia's Commitments

  1. Awareness-raising about Access to Information Rights

    MK0121, 2018, Capacity Building

  2. Public Access to Central Register of the Republic of Macedonia

    MK0122, 2018, Beneficial Ownership

  3. Mapping homeless and socially endangered families and individuals

    MK0123, 2018, E-Government

  4. Monitoring property status of elected and appointed officials

    MK0124, 2018, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  5. Assessment of anti-corruption legislation

    MK0125, 2018, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  6. Open Treasury

    MK0126, 2018, E-Government

  7. Publishing procurement information

    MK0127, 2018, E-Government

  8. Health Sector Transparency and establish a cost impact assessment mechanism

    MK0128, 2018, Capacity Building

  9. Employment program transparency and impact assessment mechanism

    MK0129, 2018, Capacity Building

  10. Cataloging data sets in state institutions

    MK0130, 2018, E-Government

  11. regional open data initiatives

    MK0131, 2018, Open Data

  12. Financial Transparency Tools

    MK0132, 2018, E-Government

  13. Improvement in Local Public Service Delivery

    MK0133, 2018, Beneficial Ownership

  14. Inclusive local decision-making

    MK0134, 2018, Gender

  15. To resilient Skopje via data availability

    MK0135, 2018, Infrastructure & Transport

  16. Access to Justice Development

    MK0136, 2018, Justice

  17. Improving access to justice for marginalized groups of citizens

    MK0137, 2018, Capacity Building

  18. Awareness-raisinga about Climate Change

    MK0138, 2018, Environment and Climate

  19. national assembly capacity-building

    MK0139, 2018, Capacity Building

  20. Increasing the financial transparency of the Assembly of RM

    MK0140, 2018, Fiscal Transparency

  21. Better Access to Information

    MK0140, 2018, E-Government

  22. Parliamentary TV channel

    MK0141, 2018, E-Government

  23. Citizen participation in Assembly

    MK0142, 2018, Legislature

  24. Creation of open data standards

    MK0089, 2016, Legislation & Regulation

  25. Improvement of the open data platform and its approximation to the citizens

    MK0090, 2016, Capacity Building

  26. Rising awareness of open data

    MK0091, 2016, Capacity Building

  27. Cataloging and categorization of data sets held by state institutions

    MK0092, 2016, E-Government

  28. Open data Linking on the state institutions’ portals

    MK0093, 2016, E-Government

  29. Improvement and facilitation of the access to information

    MK0094, 2016, Capacity Building

  30. Implementation of the Law on Whistle-Blower Protection and raising the awareness for whistle-blowing

    MK0095, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  31. Open data on property status of elected and appointed persons

    MK0096, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  32. Promotion of integrity, transparency and accountability on local level and monitoring the progress

    MK0097, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  33. Promotion of cooperation and increased proactivity in the prevention of corruption and conflict of interests

    MK0098, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  34. Starred commitment Open budget initiative

    MK0099, 2016, Fiscal Transparency

  35. Open Data on Health Programs

    MK0100, 2016, Fiscal Transparency

  36. Creating a legal obligation for the contracting authorities for mandatory publication of information regarding the public procurement contracts on their websites

    MK0101, 2016, Fiscal Transparency

  37. Involving representatives of associations and foundations, as well as other civil society organizations, in transparent and objective manner in sector working groups for planning and programming of IPA 2

    MK0102, 2016, Public Participation

  38. Publication of data on signed contracts and received assistance through Infrastructure Development Program (ORIO) Netherlands

    MK0103, 2016, Aid

  39. Introduction of a publicly accessible register of concession contracts

    MK0104, 2016, E-Government

  40. Increased budgetary fund benefits in preventive and curative health protection for citizens

    MK0105, 2016, Capacity Building

  41. Publication of data on planned and realized domestic and foreign assistance for rural development and agriculture on a quarterly basis

    MK0106, 2016, Aid

  42. Determination of data on state assistance to be published and their publication

    MK0107, 2016, Aid

  43. Developing standards for transparency and open data on local level

    MK0108, 2016, Capacity Building

  44. Establishment of new tools to improve financial transparency and accountability of Local self-government units

    MK0109, 2016, Capacity Building

  45. Improvement of the institutional consultation mechanism at the local level

    MK0110, 2016, Capacity Building

  46. Capacity strengthening for cooperation between the local self-government units and civil organizations

    MK0111, 2016, Capacity Building

  47. Monitoring and evaluation of service quality at the local level

    MK0112, 2016, Capacity Building

  48. Improvement of the local level social services

    MK0113, 2016, Capacity Building

  49. Improvement of disabled people social inclusion at the local level

    MK0114, 2016, E-Government

  50. Improvement of the local level communal services

    MK0115, 2016, Capacity Building

  51. More information for the citizens on the Ombudsman institution

    MK0116, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  52. Favorable legal environment for social contracts

    MK0117, 2016, Civic Space

  53. Developing climate policies at national level in a transparent and participatory manner

    MK0118, 2016, Environment and Climate

  54. Open data on climate change at national and local level

    MK0119, 2016, Capacity Building

  55. Ensuring private sector accountability and involvement in national climate change action

    MK0120, 2016, E-Government

  56. Advancement of the consultation process with stakeholders in the policy creating process

    MK0087, 2016, E-Government

  57. Cooperation advancement with the civil sector

    MK0088, 2016, Capacity Building

  58. Enhancement of the ENER portal and optimization of the process of public consultation

    MK0036, 2014, E-Government

  59. Implementation of the measures from the Strategy for Cooperation of the Government with the Civil Society (2012-2017)

    MK0037, 2014, E-Government

  60. Strengthening the rules for work and use of ENER

    MK0038, 2014, E-Government

  61. Publication of the results of using ENER - " Mirror of the Government "

    MK0039, 2014, E-Government

  62. Monitoring of openness of government institutions in the processes of policy making and law drafting "Mirror of the Government: public participation in the process of law drafting" Annual Report – assessment of:

    MK0040, 2014, Public Participation

  63. Capacity building of civil society organizations to monitor the implementation of policies

    MK0041, 2014, Capacity Building

  64. Raising the awareness about the benefits of Open Government Partnership:

    MK0042, 2014, Capacity Building

  65. Greater public awareness and use of participatory policy making through the internet portal e-democracy by the institutions, companies, chambers, civil society and citizens

    MK0043, 2014, E-Government

  66. Starred commitment Establishing of an advisory body to promote cooperation, dialogue and encourage the development of the civil society, composed of representatives of the Government, administrative bodies and civil society organizations

    MK0044, 2014, Public Participation

  67. Improved implementation of the Code of Good Practice for the participation of civil society in the policy making process

    MK0045, 2014, Capacity Building

  68. Open data of the bodies and public sector institutions according to their technical features which they create in exercise of their powers that will be made available for use

    MK0046, 2014, Open Data

  69. Setting of technical standards for the data format and the manner of its publication prescribed by the Minister of Information Society and Administration.

    MK0047, 2014, Open Data

  70. Establishing a Central catalog of public sector data published for use based on a catalog of data from the bodies and the institutions of the public sector www.otvorenipodatoci.gov.mk (opendata.gov.mk)

    MK0048, 2014, E-Government

  71. Establishing a database for the contact person in the bodies and institutions of the public sector where a contact person shall be appointed responsible for the technical adaptation and publishing of data for use, their publication on the website of the authority and responsibilities for the accuracy of the catalog data www.opendata.gov.mk.

    MK0049, 2014, Open Data

  72. Introducing the possibility for submission of a request by the interested parties for new datasets for use.

    MK0050, 2014, Open Data

  73. Establishing a platform for data mashing (pilot 11 institutions)

    MK0051, 2014, E-Government

  74. Trainings for implementation of the Law on Use of Data from the Public Sector

    MK0052, 2014, Capacity Building

  75. Raising public awareness about the right to free access to public information through the created and conducted media presentations and educational campaign

    MK0053, 2014, Capacity Building

  76. Establishing of inter-sector working group for determining the compliance with the Convention of the Council of Europe for access to public documents and setting national legal requirements for accession to the Convention

    MK0054, 2014, Public Participation

  77. Educating officers and officials at the information holders (Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information)

    MK0055, 2014, Capacity Building

  78. Making a new web site of the Commission (Ministry of Information Society and Administration)

    MK0056, 2014, E-Government

  79. Regular posting and updating the list of information holders

    MK0057, 2014, Capacity Building

  80. Availability of all public information on the web sites of the information holders (all holders)

    MK0058, 2014, Capacity Building

  81. Improving the financial and human resources of the Commission (Ministry of Finance, the Commission for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration)

    MK0059, 2014, Capacity Building

  82. Increasing the cooperation of the Commission with associations and foundations and municipalities in RM through Memorandum of Cooperation

    MK0060, 2014, Capacity Building

  83. Publishing information about budget and program implementation of health budgets, with particular focus on the budgetary and financial implementation of preventive programs of the Ministry of Health, obtained through a procedure of access to public information www.esem.org.mk

    MK0061, 2014, E-Government

  84. Amending the Law on Free Access to Public Information (Ministry of Justice)

    MK0062, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  85. Starred commitment Adoption of amendments to the Law on Prevention of Corruption in the direction of:

    MK0063, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  86. Implementation of activities to raise awareness of public administration and citizens to report corruption and other unlawful and impermissible actions

    MK0064, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  87. Introducing guidelines to the integrity system and their further piloting in the municipalities and central level institutions

    MK0065, 2014, Capacity Building

  88. Defining a methodology for assessing the risks of corruption by updating the concept of integrity

    MK0066, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  89. Developing a methodology for monitoring the progress of implementation of integrity systems (integrity index) for local self governments

    MK0067, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  90. Developing a methodology for monitoring progress in implementation of integrity systems by the civil society (through tools for social responsibility)

    MK0068, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  91. Continuously promote the use of IT tools for social responsibility in the municipalities and other institutions

    MK0069, 2014, Capacity Building

  92. Building the capacity of civil society organizations to monitor anti-corruption practices at the local level through research and a LOTOS study

    MK0070, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  93. Defining the scope of the elected and appointed persons who are obliged to submit declarations of assets and interests statement - Preparation of the Register

    MK0071, 2014, Asset Disclosure

  94. Implementation of the Open Budget Initiative

    MK0072, 2014, Fiscal Transparency

  95. Starred commitment Public procurement

    MK0073, 2014, Open Contracting and Procurement

  96. Foreign aid and foreign investment

    MK0074, 2014, Aid

  97. Developing capacities at local level for the implementation of mechanisms for proactive communication with citizens

    MK0075, 2014, Capacity Building

  98. Establish an electronic platform (dashboard) with indicators for the budget and delivery of local services

    MK0076, 2014, E-Government

  99. Improving local services through direct collaboration with citizens

    MK0077, 2014, Public Participation

  100. Transforming the part of local services in e- services

    MK0078, 2014, E-Government

  101. Participatory policy making at the local level- obligatory consultations with citizens in drafting/amending of the most important acts and documents in the local government (budget, strategies, urban plans, statute)

    MK0079, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  102. Increasing accountability and promoting the concept of informed consumers and citizens, service users and rights through:

    MK0080, 2014, Capacity Building

  103. Publication of the results of the projects for evaluation of public administration

    MK0081, 2014, Capacity Building

  104. Inclusive elementary and secondary education for persons with disabilities

    MK0082, 2014, Education

  105. Enforcement activities of the Center for Safer Internet Action Plan in accordance with (Inhope Macedonia)

    MK0083, 2014, Capacity Building

  106. Analysis of the results obtained in field research at the national level to implement the program

    MK0084, 2014, Capacity Building

  107. Informing women on the rights and the services available to them with the Programme

    MK0085, 2014, Capacity Building

  108. Increasing responsibilities and promote the concept of environmental protection (DEM – AD Treska, Makedonski Brod and other stakeholders):

    MK0086, 2014, Environment and Climate

  109. ENER on line participatory tool in legislation drafting; 1)Publishing draft laws; 2)ENER usage data

    MK0001, 2012, Public Participation

  110. www.e-demokratija.gov.mk - on line tool for participatory policy making

    MK0002, 2012, E-Government

  111. Introduction of online petitions

    MK0003, 2012,

  112. Implementation of the Strategy for Cooperation of the Government with the Civil Society Sector

    MK0004, 2012, Public Participation

  113. Code of Best Practices for NGO Involvement

    MK0005, 2012, Capacity Building

  114. www.opendata.gov.mk

    MK0006, 2012, E-Government

  115. Development of business model for open data

    MK0007, 2012, Open Data

  116. Prioritizing opening of data

    MK0008, 2012, Open Data

  117. Use of inter-operable services as guidance in opening data

    MK0009, 2012, Open Data

  118. Plan and monitor the implementation of the plans for opening the state institutions information.

    MK0010, 2012, Open Data

  119. Analyses of the legal framework enabling open data.

    MK0011, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  120. Improving services through www.uslugi.gov.mk

    MK0012, 2012, E-Government

  121. Integration of Citizen Logs, their update and publishing

    MK0013, 2012, E-Government

  122. ‘Traffic light’ project for citizens’ evaluation of the administration.

    MK0014, 2012, Public Participation

  123. Provision of the Government services through cloud computing.

    MK0015, 2012, E-Government

  124. Introduction of one-off request for the information from the citizens.

    MK0016, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  125. Use of harm test. and 2. Publication of information gathered through the Free Access Law

    MK0017, 2012, Right to Information

  126. Publication of easy to search public information.

    MK0018, 2012, Right to Information

  127. Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Public Documents.

    MK0019, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  128. Electronic submission of requests for access to public character information.

    MK0020, 2012, E-Government

  129. Training of access to information officers.

    MK0021, 2012, E-Government

  130. Identification of low interest areas for business investments. 2.Publication of research.

    MK0022, 2012, Education

  131. Scientific and research cooperation through the Internet.

    MK0023, 2012, E-Government

  132. Publication of information from the State Statistical Office for further scientific purposes.

    MK0024, 2012, Education

  133. Available information about the Inspectorates

    MK0025, 2012, Justice

  134. Introduce integrity systems for anticorruption policies in the public administration.

    MK0026, 2012, Capacity Building

  135. Open Budget initiative

    MK0027, 2012, Fiscal Transparency

  136. Public Procurements

    MK0028, 2012, E-Government

  137. Foreign assistance and foreign investments

    MK0029, 2012, Aid

  138. Opening of information by the Municipalities

    MK0030, 2012, Open Data

  139. Free access to information training local self-government officials

    MK0031, 2012, Capacity Building

  140. Integrity system on local level.1. Established methodology. 2. Piloting in 10 municipalities.

    MK0032, 2012, Conflicts of Interest

  141. Promotion of consumers information in selected areas.

    MK0033, 2012, Gender

  142. Availability of information related to: roads safety, air quality, safety of workers

    MK0034, 2012, E-Government

  143. Public health information

    MK0035, 2012, Health