October 10, 2007

A Serbian cartoon depicting the theme of Right to Know Day. In English, it reads, “Enough of this. I have the right to know

“Enough of this! I have the right to know.”  This was the theme of the 2nd Annual International Right to Know Day event held at the SAVA Center on September 28, 2007 in Belgrade, Serbia.  For the second year in a row, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative joined forces with Serbia’s Public Information Commissioner to sponsor this worldwide celebration that aims to promote the fundamental right of the public access to government information. 

ABA ROLI’s Liason in Serbia Stuart Brooks opened the ceremony, which included comments by the Public Information Commissioner and other distinguished guests. The commemoration of International Right to Know Day seeks to highlight the need for government accountability to its citizens and to encourage transparent environments that prevent corruption.

This year’s celebration in Serbia honored the network of Commercial Courts of Serbia as the state institution that showed the strongest commitment to complying with and implementing Serbia’s Freedom of Information law (FOIA).  The Municipality of Smederevo and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government also received Honorable Mention certificates.

The Belgrade ceremony was simultaneously broadcast through direct video link in the Media Center in Nis, Serbia.  Volunteers in Nis, Novi Sad, and Belgrade distributed FOIA leaflets, t-shirts and guides to Serbian citizens.  

Since Serbia’s FOIA law was adopted in 2004, ABA ROLI has promoted the law through International Right to Know Day and by conducting a public outreach program to train representatives of the judiciary, the prosecution, media, and non-governmental organizations on how to use the law.

For more information, please contact Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org>, Program Officer for Kosovo/Serbia.

For more information, please contact Laura Berger <lberger@staff.abanet.org>, Program Officer for Kosovo/Serbia.