BackThe newly admitted IOI member, the Ethiopian Institution of the Ombudsman (EIO), organized a workshop for federal and regional government offices’ public relations heads to discuss the implementation of the Access to Information Law. The reports on the progress of the implementation that have to be submitted by government bodies to the EIO were also subject of discussion.
The Freedom of Mass Media and Access to Information Law was issued in 2008, taking into account the fundamental importance of the transparent conduct of government affairs in a democratic society and the right of individuals to access information held by public bodies. The implementation and enforcement of the law is believed to promote and consolidate the values of transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs, and to impose a legal obligation on public officials to facilitate access of individuals and the mass media to information of public interest.
In November 2011, the implementation of the law was launched nationally in Ethiopia with the necessary preparations undertaken. The law gives the Institution of the Ombudsman the responsibility to monitor the implementation of the law. Therefore public bodies have to submit annual reports to the EIO. The reports include the activities of the public body in implementing the provisions of the law. After collecting the reports, the institution of the ombudsman prepares an annual report to the Council of Peoples’ Representatives on the progress of the implementation of the Access to Information Law. The ombudsman can also make recommendations to the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
Source: THE ETHIOPIAN INSTITUTION OF THE OMBUDSMAN
You can find the latest issue of the EIO newsletter, including a report on the 10th IOI World conference held in Wellington, below.
