2010-July-26
Nominating Candidates for the FOI Annual Award Ceremony more>>

2010-July-13
Black list 2010: The second quarter more>>

2010-June-30
The FOICA’s claim against the Yerevan Urban Development and Investment Programs Department will be examined for a second time. more>>
ABOUT US / GENERAL INFO

Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA)

“Freedom of Information Center of Armenia” non-governmental organization (FOICA) was founded on June 1st, 2001. The main task of FOICA is to defend the people’s constitutional right to have access to information. The mission of FOICA is to promote application of the RA Freedom of Information Law, contribute to the transparency and openness of the Armenian government system and to stimulate civic society’s involvement in the governance system. The main directions of the FOICA activities are:
 
  • Legal counseling and Strategic Litigation (2001-2010): FOICA provides legal consulting on the procedures for accessing and receiving information to citizens, mass media, NGOs, journalists, and legal bodies of Armenia. The Center helps journalists and citizens to appeal unjustified refusals of access through the courts hence making court precedents in the FOI field in Armenia. During 2001-2010 FOICA has provided legal consultation to 6000 people. In 2006-2010 the center has filed 28 court cases against state and self-governing bodies for illegal refusals of information requests and has restored the violated rights of people. About 75% of the filed court cases had positive outcomes.
  • Monitoring (2003-2010): FOICA monitors the application of RA Freedom of information legislation in state bodies and self-governing bodies. Annually, the center submits about 1000 FOI requests to state and self-governing bodies, thus being one of the most active users of the RA law on “Freedom of information”.
  • Trainings (2002-2010): Organizing countrywide trainings for citizens and representatives of NGOs and mass media, as well as state officials, the center helps to improve their knowledge in the sphere of freedom of information. In 2003-2010 more than 5000 persons received knowledge and skills on the FOI legislation icluding 2200 officials.
  • Public Campaign (2001-2010): Since 2001 the center runs a country-wide public education campaign aimed at raising public awareness on th access to information issues. Hundreds of TV shows, TV and Radio programs have been broadcast, articles have been published. The FOICA also publishes the “You have the right to know” Bulletin which is the only Armenian periodical specialized in freedom of information. Each issue of the bulletin contains a “black-list” of those officials who have violated the access right of citizens, journalists, NGOs and juridical persons.
  • Legislative reforms (2001-2010): FOICA has played an active role in the elaboration and adoption of RA law on “Freedom of information”. Currently, the center initiates the drafting and adoption process of the second generation of the freedom of information legislation reforms which is now included in the agenda of the RA National Assembly session.
  • The FOI Annual Award Ceremony (2003-2010): During the Annual Award Ceremony, the Center awards the “golden key” award to citizens, NGOs and state bodies who have best applied the law on “Freedom of information”. State bodies, violating the law on “Freedom of Information” receive the “lock” award. 
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    FOICA is a member of:

 

  • Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIA Network), Global (www.foiadvocates.net) with its 55 members worldwide was formed to meet the need to exchange information between NGOs working actively in the freedom of information area and to facilitate the development of common projects. The FOIA Network also aims to facilitate the forming of coalitions of NGOs to address FOI issues at a regional or global level.
  • Access Info Europe (founder member), Global. It is a human rights organization dedicated to promoting the right of access to information in Europe and contributing to the development of this right globally.
  • Freedom of Information Civic Initiative, Armenia FOI Civic Initiative joins three major organizations in FOI field - “Freedom of Information Center”, “Civil Society Institute” and “Media Law Institute”. The Initiative member NGOs successfully led the process of elaboration and adoption of the Freedom of Information Law in Armenia.
  • FOICA is an honored member of the American National Coalition of FOI Centers, which associates 25 FOI Centers in the United States. (www.nfoic.org).
  • Eastern Partnership National Platform founder, 2010 June. 

    •  The president of the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia is Shushan Doydoyan, PhD, professor of the Journalism Department, Yerevan State University.
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