Project Name: Open Society Human Rights Internship 2013

Donor Organization: Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI)

Project Number: OR2012-00558

Grant Amount: 8,625.00 USD

Period of Performance: February 1, 2013 – July 31, 2013

Project Description

The research planned in the framework of this project relates to the comparative analysis of the legislative and practical problems of Georgia in the area of freedom of information and issues of the transparent and accountable government to international standards, especially the case law of the ECHR and the best practice of different states with the best practice of access to public documents.

The research contains problematic issues raised from the Georgian reality: access to public information, transparency of the state budget and government financing, accountability of public officials, issues of personal information, problems relating to the data protection and etc. These issues would be analyzed independently and in detail, taking into account the actual nature of the topic in Georgia.

The research would use different types of research methodologies. Mainly, it would be oriented on comparative method of the research to show the similarities, advantages and disadvantages of some regulations or practice of Georgia to other states, but it will use the descriptive and analytical methods as well.

The purpose of the research is to create a blog concerning the comparative analysis of the problematic issues in the above-mentioned areas and to prepare reports about actual matters in a current time. The blog will provide to answer the challenges of the Georgian legislation and practice concerning the freedom of information and discuss all the actual problems in this area in comparative perspective. Reports would be oriented to prepare some recommendations for Georgia in the light of international, especially European standards and experience of foreign states.

The researchers will be uploaded on the IDFI web-site (www.idfi.ge) and will be also published on the social networks. It will initiate active discussions on the issues such as freedom of information, accountability, transparency of administrative expenses, etc. The reports would be useful for all citizens to receive more information about the situation in Georgia comparing to international standards and for those who work in this area of the protection of the right to information in national or international level.

Also the Intern will assist the IDFI team in preparing administrative complaints against the state authorities who refuse, do not respond or ignore letters of requests of information, also intern will participate in litigations and defend the interest of the Institute during court cases.

Budget