ABOUT THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL CENTRE ON ACCESS TO PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Non-Governmental Centre on Access to Public Information is one of the programmes run by the Association of Leaders of Local Civic Groups.

Objectives of the Non-Governmental Centre:

• Gather know-how and expertise on the freedom of information;
• Promote issues related to the right to information and encourage its use;
• Lobby public authorities to expand the right to information.

These objectives are consistent with the Association's mission of promoting transparency and openness of public authorities in a democracy.

The activities of the Non-Governmental Centre include:

• Consulting;
• Involvement in court cases;
• Disseminating awareness of the right to information through training, the media, and the www.informacjapubliczna.org.pl website;
• Mobilising public administration to better performance by holding a competition on information procedures;
• Training freedom of information watchdogs;
• Monitoring the application of freedom of information laws;
• Consulting on proposed legislation and regulations;
• Starting debate on matters relevant for the exercising of the right to information.

Initiatives and instruments developed by the Non-Governmental Centre:

• Right To Know Week;
• The Breaking Down Open Doors competition;
• A school for freedom of information watchdogs;
• An Internet training course on the right to information;
• The www.informacjapubliczna.org.pl website;
• A database of rulings on the right to information;
• An e-mail RTI helpline: dip@lgo.pl, tel. +48 22 844 73 55.

International activity:

• Grundtvig workshop: Information is a First Step to Participation;
• Transparency in Public Life - Exchange of Experience and Good Practice between Poland, Russia and Ukraine.

Other initiatives by our Association that concern public information:

We also organized Transparency Camp Poland – the meeting of people interested in opening public data and re-using them in business, civic activity and social life.

Recognition for the Non-Governmental Centre:

In 2009, the Non-Governmental Centre on Access to Public Information was recognised by Ashoka, an international organisation that awards individuals who implement innovative ideas. Special mention was awarded to the first president of our association, Katarzyna Batko-Tołuć, for developing the initial concept for the Non-Governmental Centre. For more information, go to: www.ashoka.org.