INSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ministerial appointments (27), migration (10), property relations (8), public documents (8), police (5). inspections (5) and war damage (2). Out of the total number of issued recommendations, 51 recommendations were implemented, 2 were partially implemented, cooperation with the bodies in 38 recommendations was made, 29 recommendations were not implemented, and the Ombudsman did not receive any feedback in respect of 55 issued recommendations. The following part is a cross-section of the situation by category of violation of rights relating to the exercise of political and civil rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 4.1. Free access to information The right to access information is considered to be a basic prerequisite for building a democratic society. An effective system of exercising and protecting the right of access to information reflects the responsibility and transparency of every government. It is necessary for citizens to be able, through effective mechanisms, to raise various issues of public interest. Involvement of the public in the decision-making process should be based on the principles of transparency and openness of public bodies, thus enhancing citizens' trust in public authorities and realizing communication between citizens and public authorities in both directions. The Institution, under the Law on Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina 17 and the applicable legislation related to free access to information 18 processes complaints related to the access to information, makes ex officio surveys, and also has a mandate to prepare and issue guidelines and general recommendations in the area of implementation of the legislation governing free access to information. 4.1.1. Legislation The right of access to information in Bosnia and Herzegovina is governed by the laws adopted at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entity levels. The Law on Free Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted in 2000, and in 2001 the Law on Free Access to Information of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Law on Free Information in Republika Srpska were adopted. A Guide for the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina is applicable in Brčko District of BiH 19. This Guide governs the issues which are supposed to contribute to more efficient implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brčko District of BiH as it comes to the strict implementation of this Law, and determination of the costs of copying the information. 17 Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No 32/2000, 19/2002, 35/2004 and 32/2006 Law on Free Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 28/2000, 45/2006, 102/2009, 62/2011 and 100/2013; Law on Free Access to Information in Republika Srpska, Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, no. 20/2001; Law on Free Access to Information in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina" No 32/2001 and 48/2011 19 Guide for the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Official Gazette of BD BiH, no. 36/2004 18 18