About foica

About Foica

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General Information
Success Stories
Strategies and Policies
Annual Reports
Joun Our Team
Our Partners
Contact Us
Donation

About FOICA

Freedom of Information Center (FOICA) was founded by journalists and lawyers on July 1st, 2001 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The mission of FOICA is to promote the 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 objectives of FOICA for 2024 are:

  • Supporting the Government of Armenia in building effective streamlined, data-driven, and citizen-centered strategic communications systems, capacity, and practices;
  • Advancing communication policies and implantation practice of the Government by fostering citizen-centered strategic communications and public outreach.
  • Protecting the data protection rights of people and fostering development of data protection environment in the country;
  • Promoting beneficial ownership transparency reform recently launched in the country;
  • Advancing access to information strategies and implementation practice;
  • Assisting the government in establishing strategic policies and papers aimed at the fight against disinformation;
  • Establishing access to and use of information self-assessment instruments for government entities.
  • Fostering the judicial system’s external and internal communication;
  • Protecting the rights and interests of civil society and the media in their search for information.

The main directions of the FOICA activities are:

Strategic Communication

In partnership with Chemonics International, the FOICA supports the Government in building effective streamlined, data-driven, and citizen-centered strategic communications systems, capacity, and practices by the support of USAID. The following are three main focus areas:
• Component 1: Enable the institutional setup and talent management of the public sector’s streamlined strategic communications;
• Component 2: Ensure the public sector has institutionalized systems and capacity for data-driven information management to inform strategic communications;
• Component 3: Foster citizen-centered strategic communications and public outreach. 

Apart from this comprehensive intervention, the FOICA partners with Development Professionals Inc. to support the judicial system in its efforts to advance internal and external communication by developing a communication strategy and action plan for the Supreme Judicial Council and assisting its realization and advancement.


Fight against corruption

Freedom of Information Center, using freedom of information as a tool to fight against corruption, has been actively involved in the anti-corruption struggle since 2001. The organization is involved in various anti-corruption activities, including providing trainings for civil society groups and public officials, organizing public education campaigns, supporting the development of anti-corruption national strategies as well as monitoring their implementation, monitoring political parties’ campaign financing, and public procurement.

FOICA is a member of the UNCAC Coalition.
In 2017, was included in the individual staff of the Anti-Corruption Council of the RA.
Since July 2019, the FOICA has been included in the RA Anti-Corruption Policy Council.

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Beneficial ownership initiative

To ensure a realistic fight against corruption and money laundering, in 2018 the FOICA initiated public consultations on beneficial ownership and worked closely with the RA Government to adopt a new commitment to the beneficial ownership field in the 4th National OGP Action Plan. FOICA is currently actively raising public awareness and capacity building of Business Comunity and CSOs on this ambitious reform. FOICA implements thematic projects continuing the constant work towards the implementation of the reform and ensuring the active participation of the main actors in its framework.

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Combating Disinformation

FOICA supports the fight against disinformation by developing and implementing strategic documents regulating the sector, as well as by organizing targeted capacity-building training on fact-checking and access to information for various stakeholders. FOICA also disseminates information and documents essential to crucial public spheres.

To implement systemic changes in the sector FOICA has developed the National Strategy Аgainst Disinformation 2023-2025 and the Roadmap. The documents envisage a complex of urgent and immediate actions to protect the Republic of Armenia, its institutions, and citizens from disinformation.

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Open Government Partnership Initiative

The FOICA is a pioneer in fostering Open Government Partnership objectives in Armenia by setting up a productive dialogue and cooperation between the Government and civil society. FOICA plays an active role in the development of the OGP Armenia Action Plans, implementation, and monitoring of the implementation process against the commitments. The FOICA has organized a series of public debates on the draft National Action plans thus ensuring public participation in the development process of this important document. The debates and public discussions organized by the FOICA provided a unique forum for a constructive dialogue between the NGOs and the Government, where they engage in a collaborative debate.

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Legal counseling, Advocacy, and Strategic Litigation

During its 22 years of operation, FOICA has provided legal consultations on FOI-related issues to more than 10000 persons (citizens, media, CSOs, journalists, and legal persons). The FOICA helps civil society groups to appeal unjustified information refusals in courts, hence making positive court precedents in the FOI field in Armenia. In 2006-2018 the FOICA brought 54 court cases with 80% positive outcomes against national and municipal bodies for illegal refusals of information requests.

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Legislation reforms

The FOICA has played an active role in the elaboration and adoption of the Armenian law on “Freedom of Information”. On the initiative of the FOICA and by the head of the Center Shushan Doydoyan, as well as several representatives of civil society and lawyers, the RA Law “On Freedom of Information” has been developed since 2001. As a result of a series of consultations and cooperation with the deputies of the National Assembly, the Law on FOI was adopted by the RA National Assembly on September 23, 2003. Currently, FOICA continues its active role in the process of sectoral legislative reforms.

Reforms on E-governance

The FOICA has implemented various activities to introduce and improve new mechanisms of e-government in the management system and direct them to ensure their publicity and exercise people’s right to receive information. In 2011 with the initiative and support of FOICA, the official websites of the RA Ministry of Territorial Administration and 10 governorates were modernized. In 2009-2010 FOICA also supported the implementation of the Mulberry system of electronic document circulation in the RA regional administrations, organizing a series of trainings for this purpose, and providing computers to the municipalities and regional administrations.

Monitoring

Since 2003, since the adoption of the FOI Law, FOICA has regularly carried out monitoring to find out the state of freedom of information in RA. To assess the real state of freedom of information in state administration and local self-government bodies, to oblige state bodies to work openly and transparently, as well as to obtain necessary information for citizens, FOICA sends more than 1000 requests for information to state administration and local self-government bodies, while being at the same time One of the most active users of the RA Law “On Freedom of Information”.

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Trainings

By organizing country-wide capacity-building training sessions for over 10000 people including up to 4000 civil and community servants on the implementation of the FOI legislation. Training modules developed by the FOICA team have been approved as mandatory by the RA State Civil Service and the Minister of Territorial Administration for ongoing trainings of civil and community servants.

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Public Campaign

FOICA actively advertises the public’s right to know and the Armenian “FOI Law”. It exposes cases of violation of access rights through broadcast and print media, as well as the Internet. Dozens of TV talk shows and programs, investigative articles, conferences, and FOI Annual Award Ceremonies were organized. The FOICA’s website www.foi.am is a professional resource for everyone to get knowledge and news on freedom of information, including local and international practice. As a substantial part of the public campaign, since the adoption of the Armenian FOI law in 2003, each year on September 28 – the International Right to Know Day, the FOICA organized the Golden Key FOI Annual Award Ceremony since 2003 to assess the openness and transparency of the government and to criticize closed and secret work style.

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FOICA is a member of:

FOICA's Team

Shushan Doydoyan

President

Gevorg Hayrapetyan

Member of FOICA's board

Liana Doydoyan

Co-Founder, Board member Projects Coordinator / Communication specialist

Mane Madoyan

Project Coordinator

Harutyun Tsatryan

FOICA Researcher

Marine Mkrtchyan

Program Assistant

FOICA Statute

“Freedom of Information Center” is a non-governmental organization that operates under the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, international agreements of the Republic of Armenia, current legislation, and this charter. The organization operates throughout the territory of the Republic of Armenia and in foreign countries, following the legislation of those countries. The organization does not pursue political goals and does not belong to any political party.

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The website developed with CIPE support

Vecto Digital

The implementation of the CoE Convention on Access to Official Documents– Armenia

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Regional Dialogues on Freedom of Information Legislation in Armenia

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Legislative Practices of The Freedom of Information Discussed with State Body Representatives

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Problems and Solutions: Journalists Discuss the Possibilities of an Unified Portal for Online Requests

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Marine Mkrtchyan

Program Assistant

Marine Mkrtchyan has been working at the Freedom of Information Center since July 2024 as a program assistant.

In 20Marine Mkrtchyan has been working at the Freedom of Information Center since July 2024 as a program assistant.23, she graduated from the Faculty of Journalism, Yerevan State University, and in 2024, she completed the “TV Journalism” master’s program at the same faculty. From 2021 to 2024, she headed the Student Scientific Society (SSS) of the Faculty of Journalism at YSU. Since September 2023, she has been presiding over the Information Affairs Committee of YSU SSS. In 2024, she was awarded the title of the “Best Student of YSU” for her outstanding contribution to education and student life.

During her studies, she worked as a journalist in the Marketing Department at YSU. Additionally, worked as a correspondent in various media outlets.

Gevorg Hayrapetyan

Member of FOICA's board

Gevorg Hayrapetyan was the lawyer of the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia since 2005. In 2007 Gevorg Hayrapetyan graduated the study in the Law Faculty of Yerevan State University, and in 2006 he graduated the study in Legal Clinic of the Law Faculty of YSU. The theme of his final work was “Freedom of Information in the Republic of Armenia”. In 2015 he got masters degree. The theme of his master thesis was “The new challenges of Freedom of Information”. He has passed trainings in Short-term Courses on Freedom of Information in Ukraine (2005, Kiev) and in the Check Republic (2006, Prague). Gevorg Hayrapetyan is a FOI expert.

Gevorg Hayrapetyan is a author of 9 books on FOI – “Access to Information Right. Collection of Court Cases” ((co-author – Shushan Doydoyan, Yerevan, 2006), “Public elections” (co-author – Marine Hakobyan, Yerevan, 2007), “Access to Information Right. Collection of Court Cases” Volume 2 (co-author – Shushan Doydoyan, Yerevan, 2010), “The Legal regulation of the right to freedom of information in the Republic of Armenia: Commentaries” (co-author – Shushan Doydoyan, Karapet Harutyunyan, Yerevan, 2010), “Transparent Elections. How to Receive Information during Electoral Processes” (co-author – Mrs. Marine Hakobyan, Yerevan, 2012), “How to Cover Legal Matters. Guide for Journalists” (co-authors – Mrs. Sona Truzyan, Mr. Karapet Harutyunyan, Yerevan, 2012), “Access Zone or e-Armenia” (co-authored publication, the authored section “Code of Ethics of Online Journalist”, Yerevan, 2012), “Access to Information Right. Collection of Court Cases” Volume 3 (co-author – Mrs. Shushan Doydoyan, Yerevan, 2013), “The best in the Net” online journalist’s guidebook (co-authored publication, the authored section “Copyright protection for the Armenian media”, Yerevan, 2013). He also has published more than 30 articles and analyzes on FOI and transparency of state bodies, access to official documents, on insult and defamation.

Harutyun Tsatryan

FOICA Researcher

Harutyun Tsatryan is media and communication researcher and fact-checking specialist working in the field of media and communication more than 10 years. Previously, he received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in journalism and political science. At present, H. Tsatryan has a Ph.D in Media Studies.

Harutyun Tsatryan is an external assessor at the International fact checking network (IFCN) of the Poynter Institute and European fact checking standards network (EFCSN). H. Tsatryan is an Advisory board member of the European Youth Press, a network of youth media makers and organisations in Europe and beyond the EU borders. Since October 2021, he has been delivering lectures on “News verification and Fact checking” at Wayne State University.

H. Tsatryan joined the FOICA since 2020 and delivered desk research and training courses on different topics including BOT, fact checking, media literacy and strategic communications.

Mane Madoyan

Project Coordinator

Mane Madoyan has been working at the Freedom of Information Center since October 2018 as the Subgrant Coordinator of the Program for Access to Information and Investigative Journalism for the Most Informed Citizens.

FOICA member since 2011. She used to work for the Organization in the past too: 2013-2014 she was the FOICA’s educational program coordinator. In 2009 she graduated from YSU Faculty of Journalism (MA), she is a Ph.D. student of the same department now. From the years of study, she has been working as a communication specialist.

2005-2011 She has worked as a Public Relations Officer at Yerevan State University, since 2011 at the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) then with the lead of FPWC she moved to Yerevan Zoo as a Press Officer (until May 2016).

From September 2017 to June 2018, she worked as a Communications Specialist at the RA Government’s Information and Analytics Center, and from June 2018 – at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, as Press Secretary of minister Mane Tandilyan and the head of the Ministry’s PR Division (until 2018, October). Lecturer at YSU, Faculty of Journalism. During this time, she has been actively cooperating with the education and social NGOs as a training modules developer and communication expert.

Liana Doydoyan

Co-Founder, Board member Projects Coordinator / Communication specialist

Ms. Liana Doydoyan is a co-Founder and Board member of the “Freedom of Information Center” NGO since 2001. She has an extensive experience in Communication management and institutional development that supports and advance the strategic goals of the project and organization. Ms Doydoyan has managed more than 35 projects with the primary function of capacity building, public participation and advocacy, public awareness-raising campaigns, expertise and training, and media content development. 

Her professional experience includes the following core activities:

  • Strengthen CSO and government dialogue on public policy to enhance CSOs’ ability to influence GOAMlegislation and monitor policy implementation;
  • Plan and implement communication strategy and government relations plan with clearly articulated objectives,timelines, and outputs;
  • Design and manage projects on access to information, anti-corruption mechanisms, open governance, andempowering CSOs, media;
  • Provide Advocacy and consultation on ATI, beneficial ownership transparency to CSOs, journalists and legalpersons;
  • Organize and implement project events, public debates, press conferences, and awareness-raising campaigns,including work with social media, etc.


Ms. Liana Doydoyan is one of the pioneers in promoting the Open Government Partnership Initiative processes in Armenia. In particular, as an active member of the OGP Armenia multi-stakeholder working group, she initiated and implemented tens of projects to increase civic engagement in and oversight of reforms aimed at improving the transparency and accountability of government actions and policies. 

Her activities also include developing and conducting training courses for CSOs on access to information, anti-corruption, OGP, media literacy, and civic engagement tools. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Journalism. Ms. Doydoyan is a member of many local and international journalism associations and organizations. Certificated in Project management, Access to Information, and To

Shushan Doydoyan

President

Ms. Shushan Doydoyan is the President of the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia since 2001 and former head of the Personal Data Protection Agency of Armenia in 2015–2017. She has extensive experience in good governance, personal data protection, freedom of information and media with more than 26 years’ experience within government and non-profit sectors.

Ms. Doydoyan was the first head of the Personal Data Protection Agency of Armenia in 2015 – 2017 promoting its establishment and strategic development. Under her leadership, major directions of strategic development of the agency were accomplished, public awareness on data protection both in private and state sectors was raised, a soft legal framework was established in major strategic areas of data protection, and advanced international cooperation was formed with DP bodies in the European Union countries and professional structures.

In June 2015 at the Universal Rights Awards Ceremony Ms. Doydoyan was awarded with the Freedom Defender Award in recognition of her outstanding efforts pursuing freedom of information, transparency and accountability in public decision-making.

Ms. Doydoyan has a PhD degree since 2001. She has law and journalism background. Her extensive experience as a professor covers Media Ethics, Media Law topics for the journalism students at Yerevan State University since 1997.

She is the country representative of the Reporters Without Borders international organization since 2003. In 2004-2006 and 2010-2014 Shushan Doydoyan was a Steering Committee member of the FOI Advocates Network. She was also one of the founder members of the Access Info Europe. Ms. Doydoyan has provided expert services and trainings in the sphere of FOI and open government partnership with the support of OSCE, USAID, UNDP and GIZ.

Ms. Doydoyan is the designated author of www.e-request.am, an e-system of the RA Government for submission of applications and requests to the Government. In 2017 her idea was recognized by UNDP as one of the best three innovative ideas of public officials and her innovative idea received implementation support and recognition.

Ms. Doydoyan provides expert services, in depth analysis and trainings in the sphere of freedom of iinformation, personal data protection, strategic communication, media literacy for international organizations, such as OSCE, CoE, USAID, UNDP, World Bank, British Embassy, MSI, IRI and GIZ.

She is an author of more than 64 scientific articles and about 20 books, monographs and textbooks.

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