Barriers for seeking information in the Maldives: - lack of administrative capacity & data management systems to provide information, - no digitized filing leading to Information Officers having to search through old paper files, 2/4 #RTI Project Zinmaadhaaru

- delays in retrieving and providing information, - risk of irrevocable damage to documents. 3/4 #RTI Project Zinmaadhaaru

We call on the government to implement an information management framework, inclusive of an electronic information management system to harmonize the information retention and management efforts across all state institutions. 4/4 #RTI Project Zinmaadhaaru

An interviewee for our assessment "Effectiveness of RTI Regimes & Timely Access to Information in the Maldives", highlighted the broader issue of technological proficiency at some institutions with emails being treated exactly as they would a physical letter. Project Zinmaadhaaru

Here are some more findings from our assessment of the effectiveness of access to information in the Maldives: The lengthy timelines allocated for state institutions to provide information are a major barrier. 1/6 Project Zinmaadhaaru #RTI

The maximum duration for the first stage of the RTI process is 35 days (21 with a possible extension of 14 days), which along with the lengthy redress mechanisms are disadvantageous for the information seeker. 2/6 Project Zinmaadhaaru #RTI

Institutions have often taken the full 21 days only to reject information requests, causing unnecessary delays for the information seeker. 3/6 Project Zinmaadhaaru #RTI

Within the time it takes to be received, information often becomes useless. Eg: - For journalists reporting on critical issues - For research work with deadlines (affecting students, academics, CSOs and others). - For CSOs that are designing/implementing projects. 4/6

We call on the government to: - Reduce the time specified for state institutions to take action on requests for information from 21 days to 10 working days - Reduce the possible extension period from 14 days to 5 working days; 5/6 Project Zinmaadhaaru #RTI

- Require state institutions to provide the reasons for the extension in writing. 6/6 Project Zinmaadhaaru #RTI

Information Officers at state institutions are often unable to provide information for RTI requests without approval from a senior official. As such, penalizing the IO's alone for requests not honored is unfair & neither does it affect the decisions to withhold information. #RTI

އޭ.ޑީ.އެމްގެ އާރް.ޓީ.އައި ދިރާސާގެ ބައިވެރިންގެ ތެރެއިން %90 މީހުން އިހްތިޔާރު ކުރަނީ ސިޓީ، އީމެއިލް އަދި ފޯނު މެދުވެރިކޮށް މައުލޫމާތު ހޯދުމަށެވެ. މައިގަނޑު އެއް ސަބަބަކީ އާރް.ޓީ.އައި މަދުވެރިކޮށް މައުލުމާތު ހޯދުމަށް ހޭދަވާ ދިގު މުއްދަތެވެ. Project Zinmaadhaaru Information Commissioner's Office AG Office Maldives

އޭ.ޑީ.އެމްގެ އާރް.ޓީ.އައި ދިރާސާގެ ބައިވެރިވި މަދަނީ ޖަމިއްޔާއަކުން މައުލޫމާތު ހޯދުމަން އާރް.ޓީ.އައި ބޭނުން ނުކުރާ ސަބަބު. Read our report on the "Effectiveness of #RTI Regimes and Timely Access to Information in the Maldives here democracymaldives.org/?p=269 Project Zinmaadhaaru Information Commissioner's Office

We reviewed the Right to Information Act of the Maldives for our report: Effectiveness of RTI regimes and Timely Access to Information in the Maldives and found that: 1/5 Project Zinmaadhaaru Information Commissioner's Office The President's Office AG Office Maldives Government of Maldives #RTI

The salary details of almost 100 different state institutions in the Maldives are now available on the zinmaadhaaru website Check out zinmaadhaaru.com/salary/ Which institutions would you like to see next? #Zinmaadhaaru kuruva!

Joint Press Release: Celebrating the International Day for Universal Access to Information – The importance of the online space for access to information. Read/download: democracymaldives.org/?p=278 #SaveMaldives Campaign Zero Waste Maldives Project Zinmaadhaaru

ދިވެހި މިވެށި ހަތަރު ވަނަ އެޕިސޯޑް : ހުޅުވިފައިވާ ޒިންމާދާރު ސަރުކާރެއް މުހިންމުވަނީ ކީއްވެ؟ މި އެޕިސޯޑްގައި Project Zinmaadhaaru ޕްރޮޖެކްޓްގެ މުއައްސިސް އައިމަން ލަތީފް އާއި ޚިޔާލު ބަދަލުކޮށްލިން ޝުކުރިއްޔާ އައިމަން 🙌🏾 Piko #DhivehiMiveshi spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/YbXiquCe0Db

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global platform made up of 75 countries, 100 local governments and thousands of civil society organisations. All working together to promote transparent, participatory, inclusive and accountable governance. 1/3 Project Zinmaadhaaru

𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 #𝗔𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗛𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗮 While there is a long way to go to meet proactive disclosure requirements, concerted efforts by #RTI advocates & journalists, like Project Project Zinmaadhaaru, play a key role in raising awareness & pressuring public institutes to do better!

Press Release: 10 years and no justice. Ahmed Rilwan Abdullah was abducted and disappeared on 8 August 2014. Read statement here: democracymaldives.org/?p=399