Commissioner for Information has participated in Belgrade Media Center in the work of the gathering organized by the Association of American Lawyers - Initiative for the Rule of Law (ABACEELI), dedicated to the presentation of the analysis of the Law on Free Access to Information, as well as of results of research on Law application.
Evaluating that the analysis of the Law compiled by the group of Slovenian experts can represent a very useful contribution to the qualitative implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information, the Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic has pointed out:
"The analysis has confirmed the marks I as a Commissioner for Information have presented to the public regarding implementation of the Law that has been submitted to the National Assembly. Warnings regarding big lateness in passing of the Protection of Data and Personality Act and the Law on Classification of (confidential) Data I consider to be especially important, because due to the chronic lack of modern laws and adequate protective mechanisms in those fields, the doors are widely open for obstinacy, abuses and violation of human rights.
Results of research on law implementation confirm the evaluation about inadmissibly low level of knowledge about the law. One should have in mind the fact that the research has been implemented on a sample of 26 bodies, mostly the highest bodies in power and the judicial bodies. Such specimen is in any case above the average and is therefore a reason for worry, because such sample confirms lack of knowledge of the European human rights standards, and especially of situations in which, according to democratic standards limiting of those rights is allowed. That is the reason why I should once again remind you of the fact that the bodies in power, although they are not obliged to do so by the law, undertake very little or nothing regarding education of staff, which is necessary for qualitative application of the Law on Free Access to Information. In relation to that, except for several times repeated warnings by the Commissioner, one should have in mind that the last report of GRECO, has put the need for such an education into recommendations it has directed to our country. GRECO recommendations otherwise have a mandatory character, and the deadline for performing this specific one is the end of this year."
