Trainings / Events

Training for public officials
Center for Free Access to Information organized training for public official from ministries Bosnian-Podrinje Canton, Posavina Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton and Tuzla Canton under title ,,Full Implementation of FOIA in B&H’’ in Sarajevo, February 22 and 23, 2006. Twenty seven participants from those ministries attended training. The aim of the training was to familiarize public officials with FOIA and application of the law in practice. Participants gained basic knowledge about FOIA and legal aid in the CSpi that they can rely on, same as the information about free phone which CSpi recently install. Participants get training material which content: FOIA Training Manual for Public Officials, CD with FOI Laws in B&H (state’s and entities’), recommendations for FOIA implementation by ombudsman, presentations from training. Trainer was Amira Krehic. Zeljko Varunek presented work of information service in Centar municipality. Training were organized within project “Full Implementation of FOIA in B&H” financed by European Union, The Balkan Trust for Democracy and Olof Palme International Center.

September 28 – International Right to Know Day

The Center for Free Access to Information organizes several activities regarding celebration of the September 28, International Right to Know Day for the second time in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Volunteers and FOIA promotion - As the result of cooperation between CSpi and youth club "Young enthusiats" within local NGO "We for children" (Mi za djecu) young volunteers will distribute promotion material on those locations in the Sarajevo: Fra Grge Martica Square in front Cathedral and in front of information desks in Sarajevo's municipalities Old Town, Center, New Town and New Sarajevo.

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Presentation of the research's results - The main event would be the meeting of the public institution’s representatives of the highest level, NGO’s representatives and media in Conference Hall in Center Municipality, address: Mis Irbi No.1, Sarajevo; at 11:00 AM.
At this meeting, comparative research results about FOIA-Freedom of Information Act implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia will be presented. Agenda

Zeljko Varunek, Amira Krehic, Mehmed Halilovic, Djordjija Laketa - Blagojevic

(from right)

FOIA Training for youth NGOs. CSpi organized one-day training for representatives of the youth organizations in Sarajevo, July 04, 2005. There were 20 participants at the training. The aim of the training was to familiarize youth with FOIA. Participants were enthusiastic with possibilities that FOIA gives them in reaching their goals. Participants gained basic knowledge about FOIA and its principles, learned how to submit request for information and they got information about legal aid in the CSpi that they can rely on. CSpi delivered to the participants FOI Training Manuals (by Article 19), FOI Laws and other promotion material.
Trainer was Amira Krehic. Training were organized within project “Freedom of Information: a matter of the public interest” financed by Article 19 and European Commission.

FOIA Training for woman NGOs. CSpi organized and delivered one-day seminar for woman NGOs named «Your Right to Know: How to use Bosnian Access to Information Law in your work to promote the rights of woman» on January 11 in Sarajevo.

Participants were 18 representatives of 15 woman’s NGOs coming from throughout the BiH. Mrs. Krehic was leading trainer/speaker and two trainer trained by CSpi Majda Behrem Stojanov and Lejla Deronja (members of the NGO Centers fo Civic Initiatives in Mostar) assisted. Guest speaker was FOIA Regional Expert from England and Europe Programme Director, Ms. Luitgard Hammerer from organization Article 19. She presented how women’s organizations from other countries use freedom of information legislation in their work. Seminar was held within project “Freedom of Information: a metter of public interest” financed by Article 19 and European Commission. Participants drafted three joint strategies during group work and made commitment to carry out those strategies in their every day work.

Training for woman NGOs - 11.01.2005.

Practical section of the training (1)

Training for woman NGOs - 11.01.2005.

Practical section of the training (2)

Train the Trainer Program for Public Officials. In collaboration with Article 19, the Global Campaign for Freedom of Expression, the Center for Free Access to Information introduced the training program for BiH public officials in Sarajevo. The course is debuting in 5 countries in Eastern Europe. It will eventually be distributed worldwide to countries that have recently adopted Freedom of Information legislation.

5 participants were trained to teach colleagues how to properly implement the Freedom of Access to Information Act in Sarajevo in December 2003. In February 2004, Amira Krehic was trainer at the course in Bucharest, Romania, organized by the Romanian Helsinki Committee. Lisa Tilney was trainer at the course in Sofia, Bulgaria, organized by the Access to Information Programme in November 2003. The trainings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Montenegro were sponsored by the Stability Pact.

(Sarajevo Centar Mayor and workshop participants)

Freedom of Information Conference. Lisa Tilney and Amira Krehic were featured speakers at conference organized by Transparency International in Zagreb, Croatia in November 2003. Experts from across the region were gathered to participate in the final debate over draft Freedom of Information legislation for Croatia. The law was adopted immediately after the conference.

(Saša Lekovic and Mehmed Halilovic at Regional Workshop for Journalists)

Regional Workshop for Journalists. The Center for Free Access to Information organized workshop in October 2003. Journalists from all of the countries of the former Yugoslavia gathered in Sarajevo to discuss Freedom of Information issues and to share experiences.

The workshop included a study visit to Municipality Centar Sarajevo. This Municipality is ISO certified for excellence in administration and works closely with the Center for Free Access to Information to promote full implementation of the Freedom of Access to Information Act in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This workshop was financially supported by the Stability Pact and USAID.

(Visit to Municipality Centar Sarajevo's Public Information Center)

OSCE Field Office Training. The Center for Free Access to Information designed and conducted training for OSCE in Drvar in July 2003. This training was specifically designed to promote awareness of the Freedom of Access to Information Act in remote areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Participants were representatives of non-governmental organizations and local municipalities.

Defamation Law in Southeastern Europe Conference. Lisa Tilney was a featured speaker at conference held in June 2003, in Bucharest, Romania. The conference focused on new and emerging trends in defamation law. Participants were lawyers from Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo.

Training Program for Public Officials. The Center for Free Access to Information conducted comprehensive training program for World Learning in May and June 2003. 270 public officials from throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina were trained regarding their responsibilities for implementing the Freedom of Access to Information Act.

Defamation Roundtable. The Center for Free Access to Information organized the first round discussion about the newly adopted defamation law in Sarajevo in March 2003. Participants included senior editors from national newspapers, the president of the press council, the assistant ombudsman for media and judicial experts.

Implementation of the Freedom of Information Laws, Litigation Conference. Lisa Tilney was a featured speaker at conference organized by the Access to Information Programme in Sofia, Bulgaria in September 2002. The conference focused on litigation issues and practical enforcement of new and developing Freedom of Information laws. Participants were lawyers from Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Armenia, Macedonia, Russia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. This conference was supported by Open Society Institute - Budapest.