We would like to express our thanks to the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar for providing an opportunity to make this report available.

The Constitution of Mongolia declares that “The fundamental principles of the activities of the State shall be democracy, justice, freedom equality and national unity and respect for the law” by its article 1.2

 

The main principles of democracy are guaranteed by transparency and openness. Information is fundamental and vital in the good governance.

 

The Mongolian government has repeatedly pledged itself to transparency and openness. It is a key direction of the activities of the state institutions as stated in many laws of Mongolia.

 

The Action Plan of the Mongolian government (2004-2008) contains a commitment to “provide the citizens with rights to access any information”.

 

The National Human Rights Programme adopted in 2003 by the Parliament- Ulsyn Ikh Khural (UIKH) obliges the Government “to provide for transparency of the activities of the legislative, executive and judicial powers, particularly by creating the legal ground which   narrowly defines the rights of the citizens to obtain and disseminate information and responsibilities to provide information upon requests of the citizens and of the media workers through  abolishing unnecessary restrictions determined by the secrecy legislation and so on (2.2.5.1)