RFE/RL’s Armenian Service was awarded by an Armenian press freedom watchdog on Monday in recognition of its coverage of issues related to freedom of information.
The annual Golden Key awards by the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) and its partners this year have been given in eight nominations as a symbol of openness and transparency, with one negative Rusty Lock award given as a symbol of secrecy.
One of the eight awards – in the category “Award for the Journalist/Media Outlet Most Actively Covering Freedom of Information Issues” – went to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
The award ceremony took place at a Yerevan hotel on what has been known as International Right to Know Day since 2002. The day was marked in more than 100 countries.
In 2003 – after the adoption of an Armenian law on freedom of information – the FOICA jointly with its partner NGOs initiated the FOI Annual Award Ceremony which the organizers say has become an important awareness raising campaign tool and a stimulus for developing good access to information practices by public bodies.
Among the partners of the awards are the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Armenian Young Lawyers Association.