The Access Initiative (TAI) Toolkit has been translated into Russian. The toolkit lets civil society organizations (CSOs) in former Soviet republics accurately assess public access to information, justice and participation in environmental decision-making. Previously the TAI assessments done by CSOs like EcoPravo-Kyiv (TAI’s lead Ukranian partner) had been hampered by language barriers. EcoPravo-Kyiv is now editing the second TAI assessment report in the Ukraine, the only former Soviet republic to complete an assessment report to date.
Access policies in former Soviet republics have been trailing those of their European neighbors. As the map shows, Europe has overwhelmingly embraced freedom of information laws, but Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have not advanced as far. Belarus and Turkmenistan lag even farther behind.
The Russian-language TAI Toolkit means that nearly all former Soviet republics can now do TAI assessments in an official and/or common language. Ukraine and Kazakhstan can use the Russian version instead of the English version they’ve been using to date. With the Russian version in hand, EcoPravo-Kyiv is investigating options for new TAI teams in Moldova and Georgia, and is mentoring Green Women (another TAI partner) in Kazakhstan. Mentoring involves advice on fundraising and assessment planning, and training on the TAI Toolkit.
The TAI Toolkit is now available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese. TAI partners are working on French, Indonesian and Chinese versions.
