How to realize the right for access to information

Information and decisions are learnt from the media

In this issue, the Civic World Forum offers a possibility to see the opinions, experiences of the civil society organizations regarding the access to information, which is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.

You can take part in the Forum on the following addresses: www.graganskisvet.org.mk or www.civicworld.org.mk. Please register with full name and surname and the name of your organization, if member of any.

Marija Loncar - Velkova, Consumers' Organization of Macedonia
"Our concrete experiences as an Organization for consumers' protection vary depending on the bodies we communicate with. With the Ministry of Economy as a Ministry that is responsible for the consumers' protection we have a really good cooperation, the access to information is at a satisfactory level, but a lot more needs to be done for the citizens to feel the improvement. Our consumers cannot inform on the quality of certain products and services through continuous comparative testing and publishing of the results yet, which should be made in order to encourage the competition and to inform the consumers on-time so that they could realize their right of the correct choice. The results of the certain product analyses and their publication is just a step towards a more serious approach to these problem that should be worked on together with the government bodies, institutions and laboratories which are in charge in certain areas depending on the type of the product or service.  

Generally speaking, as an obstacle to the access to information we consider the insufficient presence of the citizens and their associations in the managing bodies within the public enterprises, thus being unable to contribute to making decisions that refer to their economic interests. Unfortunately, the information and decisions are learnt from the media, and than it only remains to act through various civic actions. These actions bring no results, but it would be simpler if there could exist an opportunity to prevent certain decisions which deeply interfere in our interests through various discussions, talks or debates". 

K.B.