Access to information is a fundamental right of everyone, including citizens, government officials, public service providers, representatives of the private sector and NGOs. It is crucial in promoting transparency, accountability and fight against corruption. In other words, it enhances people’s knowledge and promotes effective participation. In this course, representatives of civil society organisations will get a better understanding of the right to access public information and the principles it is based on. Our trainers will present the main Cambodian laws, policies and regulations currently governing this field, will provide details on the roles and duties public officials have in this respect, and will also elaborate on the contents of the new Draft for an Access to Information Law.

The post A2I – Requesting Public Information first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).

Public officials currently still have a limited understanding of the right to access public information. Misconceptions about this topic are still widespread, generally being only based on superficial coverage during television and radio programmes or on social media. This training aims to build the capacity of sub-national government officials and local councillors on the key contents of the draft for an A2I law and other relevant legislation, as well as on the guidelines to be implemented in the field of information management and disclosure to support the open government initiative. During the course, our trainers will explain the positive impact of information release, and participants will share their experience and their current practices of information disclosure. As a result, they will become familiar with their roles and duties in disclosing information, the procedures of requesting and supplying information, the concept of confidential information, the complaint mechanisms available, and the sanctions the new draft law stipulates for non-compliance and failure to disclose public information. The course also aims at teaching public officials how to manage information in insightful ways, using modern technology.

The post A2I – Disclosing Public Information first appeared on The Advocacy and Policy Institute (API).