Productive cooperation between officials and civil society: Freedom of Information Centre celebrates 15th anniversary:
Support A1+!On July 1st, 2001, a group of young journalists and lawyers founded the Freedom of Information Centre (FOICA). 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 organization sends information requests and inquires to state agencies and local self-government bodies and then makes the information public. The FOICA also played an active role in the elaboration and adoption of the Armenian law on “Freedom of information”. The law was adopted in 2003 thanks to the efforts of the FOICA team. It obligated state bodies to provide the requested information to citizens in a very short period of time. Besides, starting November 2016, citizens can receive information from the Real Estate Cadastre free of charge. FOICA President Liana Doydoyan presents the changes introduced by the organization in the country. “Despite the existing problems we have achieved something important. People get answers to their concerns through inquiries. We are proud as we have created judicial precedents and today we have a law that has not undergone any changes to this day,” she said. From 2001 until today, more than 7000 training courses have been organized by the Centre for officials and journalists, showing them the correct way of correct handling, provision and coverage of information.
