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Рy18 November 2019
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The Independent Journalism Centre (IJC) continues the series of lessons at the Academy of Public Administration on access to information and the transparency of the decision-making process. During the second course that took place on Monday, 11 November, the new civil servants from the local public authorities were trained by Tatiana Puiu, Expert in media law, and Representative of Freedom House in Moldova, and Nicolae Cuschevici, RISE Moldova journalist.
The participants in the program asked many questions about the issues they face in their daily activity: registration and processing of the request for access to information, answering to the requests for information, the legal deadlines to comply with, etc. They were also interested in other issues: how a request for information should look like, in order not to be confused with a petition; how to act when certain media representatives quote the information they obtain from civil servants out of the context or when someone enters their office without permission for video and audio recording they further share online. The trainees were also interested in finding out how they could sanction the individuals who repeatedly send requests for information, thus making their work difficult.
The two trainers answered to all civil servants’ questions. As far as the requests for information of public interest go, they found out that it’s enough for the former to include general data about the journalist. If he/she requests certain personal information, the journalist has also to indicate his/her IDNP. As regards the quoting of the information out of the context or any other violations committed by the media representatives against civil servants, these can be challenged both in the editorial offices of the Press Council, and in the courts, where appropriate. In addition, the servants were told that the meetings of the working groups from different state institutions are public. Thus, any citizen has free access to them and can make video recordings, except for the cases concerning civil servant’s privacy.
The trainers also explained to the trainees the difference between petition and request, the procedure of requesting and obtaining information, including those with limited access; the right of access to information vs privacy; the restricted-access data and personal data; the administrative liability applied to those who violate the right of access to information. The civil servants were also told about the trials with the institutions that refused to answers to the journalists’ requests for information.
Nelea Ciobanu, who works at Drochia district President Office, said that this course was welcomed. ‘The topics addressed help to improve my knowledge, develop my skills and shape the attitudes I need to effectively fulfil the civil duties. I also found out what information the website of a public institution should contain’, the participant in the course said.
The training is part of a series of lessons that IJC will organise at APA, following a collaboration agreement signed in September this year. The activities aim at strengthening the knowledge of civil servants of all levels in order to better understand the media law and to overcome the issues the journalists are currently facing in relation to servants. Other trainings will be organised at the beginning of next year.
The participants in the program asked many questions about the issues they face in their daily activity: registration and processing of the request for access to information, answering to the requests for information, the legal deadlines to comply with, etc. They were also interested in other issues: how a request for information should look like, in order not to be confused with a petition; how to act when certain media representatives quote the information they obtain from civil servants out of the context or when someone enters their office without permission for video and audio recording they further share online. The trainees were also interested in finding out how they could sanction the individuals who repeatedly send requests for information, thus making their work difficult.
The two trainers answered to all civil servants’ questions. As far as the requests for information of public interest go, they found out that it’s enough for the former to include general data about the journalist. If he/she requests certain personal information, the journalist has also to indicate his/her IDNP. As regards the quoting of the information out of the context or any other violations committed by the media representatives against civil servants, these can be challenged both in the editorial offices of the Press Council, and in the courts, where appropriate. In addition, the servants were told that the meetings of the working groups from different state institutions are public. Thus, any citizen has free access to them and can make video recordings, except for the cases concerning civil servant’s privacy.
The trainers also explained to the trainees the difference between petition and request, the procedure of requesting and obtaining information, including those with limited access; the right of access to information vs privacy; the restricted-access data and personal data; the administrative liability applied to those who violate the right of access to information. The civil servants were also told about the trials with the institutions that refused to answers to the journalists’ requests for information.
Nelea Ciobanu, who works at Drochia district President Office, said that this course was welcomed. ‘The topics addressed help to improve my knowledge, develop my skills and shape the attitudes I need to effectively fulfil the civil duties. I also found out what information the website of a public institution should contain’, the participant in the course said.
The training is part of a series of lessons that IJC will organise at APA, following a collaboration agreement signed in September this year. The activities aim at strengthening the knowledge of civil servants of all levels in order to better understand the media law and to overcome the issues the journalists are currently facing in relation to servants. Other trainings will be organised at the beginning of next year.
This course was conducted by the Independent Journalism Center (IJC) under ‘Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova’ (MEDIA-M) Project, funded by USAID, UK aid, and implemented by Internews in Moldova, which aims to promote the development of independent and professional mass-media, and to create a media sector that is more resilient to political and financial pressures.
