Donor: National Endowment Democracy (NED)
Partners: No partners
Duration: 2018-2019
Geographical Reach: Meniye - Donniyeh and Saida
Short Description:
Having the Lebanese Parliament
passing the Right to Access Information Law in February 2017, – many administrative, technical, and
social obstacles must still be addressed in order to utilize the law to its
maximum potential. Subsequently, it is vital to involve and engage all relevant
stakeholders in the implementation and enforcement of this Law as well as
effectively advocate citizens and foreign nationals to utilize the Law.
Throughout
this project, LTA provided trainings for citizens on the Law and engaged them
in monitoring the extent of its implementation in Public Administrations. This
leads to its effective ] implementation, as well as raises awareness on how to
exercise the Right to Access Information using the Law.
Several activities
are taking place under the scope of this project, selecting a number of members
of the local committees in the two selected districts Meniye-Donniyeh and
Saida; training the selected groups on the Right to Access Information Law;
monitoring its implementation and the number of Information Requests submitted
in each Public Administration (Municipalities) in the three districts; conducted
workshops on Access to Information for citizens in the local regions with the
support of LTA and produced a Legal review of the Right to Access Information
Law and the Combatting Corruption in the Public Sector and the Establishment of
the National Anti-Corruption Commission Law.
·
Desk Research
LTA Mapped the Municipalities (Saida, Meniye, and Donniyeh) who abide by the requirements of the Right
to Access Information Law, especially mandating a special public employee to be
in charge of the application of
the Law and creating a website with an Access to Information Section.
·
LTA conducted
a training for 2 groups from Saida, and Meniye – Donniyeh, consisting of 30
participants. Topic: The Right to Access Information Law and the Obligations of
Municipalities under this Law
·
The groups’
participants' submitted Information Requests according to the action plan
·
Monthly Follow
up meetings with the groups regarding the follow up on their Information Requests
to the municipalities and sharing experiences
·
LTA conducted 2
Legal Reviews on the Right to Access Information Law and its draft
Implementation Decree and the Combatting Corruption in the Public Sector and
the Establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Commission law
·
A seminar was held
to discuss the 2 legal reviews with different stakeholders (government
officials, donors, international organizations, local CSOs, and activists in
order to discuss the outcomes of the reviews.