OnJune 18-19, 2014, MLI convened the Third Forum of the Defenders of the Right toInformation in Kyiv. Thisevent was organized within theproject “Provision of Legal Protection of the Right to Information in Support of Networks and Advocates the Right of Access to Information”. The project isimplemented by the Media Law Institute with support of the “Human Rights and Justice”Program of the International Renaissance Foundation.

Back to spring2012, MLI set upa Network of Defenders of theRight toInformation with assistance by the International Renaissance Foundation. At present, the Network brings together over 100 participants from different regions of Ukraine.

The Forum program covered topical issues of improvementand implementation of the nationallegislation in the area of access to information. Opening statements were made by Mr. RomanRomanov, Director of the “Human Rights and Justice” IRF Program, Ms. Antonina Cherevko, programmanager in Ukraineofthe international organization “International MediaSupport”, and Ms. Tetiana Oleksiyuk, lawyer of the Media Law Institute and coordinator of the Network ofDefenders.

Asa result, the Forum allowed to consider in substance the following aspects:

-legislative novelties on access to public information and harmonization of by-laws with the currentlegislationon access to publicinformation;

-practice on of access to public information in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine;

-parliamentary control in the sphere by the Ombudsman`s Office;

– accessto the parliamentary sittings by citizens;

– compliance of the local publicauthorities with the Law On Access to Public Info;

– access to city plans and declarations of public officials;

– case law of Ukrainian courts in the sphere of accessto public information andexperience in defending this right in courts.

Finally, the participants eagerly draft out their proposals on upgradingthe work and internal organization of the Network of Defenders and jointlyconsidered them at the session, moderated by Ms Diana Protsenko, mediator andlawyer.

Afterthe Forum will follow the recommendations, expressed by defenders thereat, currently undercompilation.