Draft Law on Access to Information to Be Discussed in Ust-Kamenogorsk

August 6, 2010, Ust-Kamenogorsk – Ust-Kamenogorsk-based Oblast Akimat is to host regional public hearings on the draft law on access to public information developed within the UNDP project "Transparency and Access to Information and Justice in Kazakhstan" with the financial support of the British Embassy in Kazakhstan.

The right to information is a key component for a country to become a true participatory democracy with an accountable government. Many examples can be provided to illustrate the fact that the right to information was used as a tool to detect corruption at different levels.

The law on access to information can offer important social benefits. It stipulates methods and procedures for obtaining and disseminating public information, sets out the rights and obligations of information users and owners and safeguards the rights of information users to freely receive and disseminate public information.

The goal of the series of regional hearings is to hold a broad discussion of the relevance of the draft law on access to information that aims to govern social relations arising between state authorities, local governments, territorial bodies, institutions subordinate to state authorities and local governments, organizations, individuals and legal entities in obtaining and disseminating information. Hearings will also be held in Almaty, Karaganda and Uralsk. Participants of the hearings will share their opinions on the prospects of introduction of legislation on information access and discuss ideas for further enhancement of the provisions of the draft law and submission to the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

The regional public hearings in Ust-Kamenogorsk will be attended by representatives of state authorities, non-governmental organizations and scholars from Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar and Semipalatinsk.

Experts from civil society and leading Kazakhstani organizations dealing with access to information such as Media Alliance of Kazakhstan, Adil Soz, Internews Kazakhstan, Medialife Fund, Information Initiative Fund, Decenta Fund, ZUBR Fund, Institute of Legislation of Kazakhstan and others were involved in drafting the law.

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) will be a partner in covering the regional public hearings.

Media representatives are invited to attend the hearing on August 6, 2010, at the Oblast Akimat premises, Office 501 (40 Gorky Street).
Accreditation can be obtained by telephone: 8/7232/264707

For more details please contact Ms. Shynar Jetpissova at shynar.jetpissova@undp.org, tel:+7/7172/592550; Mr. Zhasulan Sarsebayev at 8/7232/263641, Ms. Aliya Duganova at 592560, aliya.duganova@undp.org .