Experts show how law on access to public information is being adhered to in Ukraine, as part of awareness-raising campaign under a UNDP project supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Kharkiv, 11 November 2021 – Experts presented in Kharkiv today the results of a monitoring survey on access to public information and how information about the use of public funds is published, as part of an awareness-raising campaign run by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

During the presentation, Svitlana Kolyshko, UNDP’s Human Rights Team lead and Human Rights for Ukraine Project Coordinator, stressed that access to information is one of the key driving forces in a democratic society.

“Transparent government bodies positively impact sustainable development and promote the implementation of the Agenda 2030,” Kolyshko said.

“Regular monitoring helps identify strengths and weaknesses and enhance the capacities of local self-government bodies in providing access to public information.” 

The presentation of the monitoring results was conducted for representatives Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, district state administrations, Kharkiv City Council, and other self-government bodies in Kharkiv Oblast.

Access to information is crucial for transparency, integrity, and accountability for state governance bodies. In June and July 2021, the regional network of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights performed a check on how local authorities and information holders are implementing legislation on access to public information.  

This was the third annual assessment conducted by the Ombudsperson regional network on how the law on access to public information is being implemented.

More about the findings of this report can be read here. The results of the 2019, and 2020 monitoring surveys are available on the UNDP in Ukraine website. 

The awareness-raising campaign on monitoring access to public information was initiated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, and was supported by the Human Rights for Ukraine (HR4U) project, which is being implemented from 2019 to 2023 by UNDP in Ukraine, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 

During the campaign, more such presentations on the results of monitoring will be held in Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, and Sumy.

Background information:

The monitoring survey of access to public information was performed by the regional network of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights with the support of the Human Rights for Ukraine (HR4U) project, which is being implemented in 2019-2023 by UNDP in Ukraine, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Media enquires:

Yuliia Samus, UNDP in Ukraine Communications Team Leader, yuliia.samus@undp.org