Electronic democracy tools nominated for Open Government Awards
Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Finance Press Release
The Ministry of Justice's on-line democracy tools are nominated as Finland's candidate in the international Open Government Awards. The theme for the 2014 Awards is “citizen engagement”. The award ceremony is held in September. All submitted applications will be evaluated and scored by an international panel of judges.
The Ministry of Justice has developed and maintains a number of on-line democracy tools, including the on-line platform for open preparation of legislation www.otakantaa.fi, and the websites www.kansalaisaloite.fi and www.kuntalaisaloite.fi, which serve as platforms for launching and supporting citizens' initiatives and municipal initiatives. The latest addition to the Ministry's e-democracy tools, www.lausuntopalvelu.fi, will enable statutory consultation on-line and is currently being pilot tested. A portal containing all the latest news and press releases from the democracy services and other important public administration websites is found at www.demokratia.fi (in Finnish and Swedish).
Open Government Partnership is a global initiative launched on the margins of the 2011 UN General Assembly by United States President Barack Obama. Established with eight initial member nations, the OGP now has 63 participating countries. The goal of the initiative is to stimulate dialogue between the government and the people and enhance citizen engagement. Finland officially joined the Open Government Partnership Initiative in March 2013. The focus of Finland’s Action Plan on Open Government is divided into four sections: Open Procedures, Clear Language, Open Knowledge and Government as an enabler.
Further information:
Coordinator Laura Nurminen, Ministry of Justice, tel. 02951 50462 (absent between 27 June – 4 August)
SADe Programme Coordinator Ira Alanko, Ministry of Finance, tel. 02955 30370 (absent between 9 July – 13 August)
Open Government Awards website
https://www.opengovawards.org/
Democracy news portal (in Finnish and Swedish)
http://www.demokratia.fi
Finland’s Action Plan on Open Government
http://www.opengovpartnership.org/country/finland/action-plan