Open Cyprus Project
The Open Cyprus Project is a bi-communal initiative that promotes access to information in island-wide Cyprus to advance government transparency and public participacion in decision-making.
Sign here for the 10 Principles and become a member of the Open Cyprus Coalition.
visit www.accessinfocyprus.eu
Ask for more, ask for your Right to Know!
International Conference on the Right of Access to Information in Cyprus
21st-22nd November 2011
Findings and recommendations for an Open Cyprus
15 November 2011 - Nicosia: A Public Consultation was held from the 24 February 2011 to 20 June 2011 for the Access Info Cyprus Project report on access to information across the island. During this period, members of the public and had the opportunity online to engage in the debate on the right to know and the best mechanisms for advancing transparency and public participation whilst at the same time, the Access Info Cyprus team held round tables with civil society, journalists, business persons and public officials from across the island. The findings, recommendations and materials from the initial research and monitoring which can be accessed below, were provided tot he public as reference documents for use in the consultation.
Responses by the Access Info Cyprus Project to comments received during the consultation process have been incorporated into the full research and recommendations report that will be presented at the conference on the 21st-22nd November 2011 in Nicosia, Cyprus. The full report will also be made available here as well as on www.accessinfocyprus.eu after the conference.
•The Right of Access to Information in Cyprus Report (107 pages)
The Open Cyprus Project calls on Pegeia Council to respect the right of access to environmental information
4 May 2011, Nicosia: This call comes after the Pegeia Council refused the request of Councillor Linda Leblanc for a copy of planning permits for a controversial new coastal development. According to the information received by the Open Cyprus project, there are systematic failures to provide information by Pegeia Council. The refusal to Councillor Leblanc's request, is a breach of the right of access to environmental information, regulated by an EU directive and a national law in the Republic of Cyprus. Additionally, local residents have been forced to resort to lawyers to have their freedom of information rights respected.
The Open Cyprus Project supports the case of Councillor Leblanc and calls for the respect of everyone's right of access to information by all public bodies in Cyprus.
For more information, see our press release here.
The Open Cyprus Project launches its Report: access to information is the exception and silence the rule in Cyprus.
24 February 2011, Nicosia/Madrid: With a level of 75% of administrative silence in response to information requests, public bodies across the island are violating the public’s fundamental right to know according to the Open Cyprus Project.
The largest ever monitoring of access to information in Cyprus found systematic breaches, in particular the non-responsiveness of public bodies resulting in 72% administrative silences in the Republic of Cyprus and 78% administrative silences in the northern part of Cyprus. Of the 393 requests submitted to 20 public bodies, only 8% of resulted in full provision of information: 7% in the Republic of Cyprus and 9% in the northern part of Cyprus.
The research carried out in 2010 led to many findings and recommendations which are presented in detail in the body of the report. Below you will a summary of the eight key findings of the research, along with recommendations.
The Open Cyprus Coalition celebrates Right to Know Day 2010
28 September 2010, Nicosia/Madrid: The Open Cyprus Coalition is marking Right to Know Day, 28th September 2010, by renewing its call for full recognition of the right of access to information in Cyprus.
The right to know is a fundamental human right as recognised by the highest international courts, the European Human Rights Court among others. The legal instruments that grant internationally the right to know are the laws of access to information and their implementing regulations.
Right to Know Day press Release
The Open Cyprus Project celebrates World Press Freedom Day.
3 May 2010, Nicosia/Madrid: The Open Cyprus Project marked World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2010, by renewing its call for full recognition of the right of access to information in Cyprus. According to the UNESCO, the right to know is an essential for freedom of expression and media freedom. It has been recognised as a fundamental human right at the international level but is still not fully respected in law or practice in Cyprus.
Read the article by Helen Darbishire, David Pardo and Ilke Dagli on May 9, 2010 in the Cyprus Mail here
World Press Freedom Day and your Right to Know
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