Access to information

The right of access to environmental information is a fundamental component of the rights to life, health, and a healthy environment.  Under Ukrainian law, the public has a right to environmental information from state authorities, local government agencies, and other government bodies responsible for environmental protection and natural resource usage.

The constitution of Ukraine and the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters (the Aarhus Convention) guarantee this right.

In Article 4 of Aarhus, each party guarantees that state bodies will reply to requests for environmental information through national law, including provision of documents regarding facts about environmental issues.  Part 2 of article 50 of the Ukrainian constitution guarantees the right to free access to information about the state of the environment and the quality of food and household products, as well as the right to disseminate this information.  Such information can not be made secret.

However, in Ukraine there are numerous instances of violation of these rights by government bodies.  In fact, environmental information in response to information requests is commonly provided only after delay, not in full, or not at all.

Environment-People-Law regularly reviews and analyzes violations of these rights and enforces the law through litigation and other means to ensure the rights and develop mechanisms for their protection.