freedom of information headlines from around the world

5 FEBRUARY 2010
Transparency Advances in Mexico. . . in Reverse
By Emilene Martínez Morales
Translated by Jesse Franzblau

Since the start of the year, President Felipe Calderón through actions undertaken by the Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la República – PGR) and the Secretariat of Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación - Segob), has shown a clear interest in weakening Mexico’s federal transparency oversight body (Instituto Federal al Acceso a la Información - IFAI) by proposing a separate tribunal to review IFAI’s decisions on FOI requests. More >>

Publicado originalmente en Español por / Originally published in Spanish for El Universal Blogs, México Infórmate.

3 FEBRUARY 2010
Freedominfo.org Launches Russian-Language Portal

Freedominfo.org is pleased to provide Russian-language content through this website. This Russian portal will feature selected translations of Freedominfo.org content into Russian.

Go to the Russian-language website.

29 JANUARY 2010
Anti-Corruption Activist Satish Shetty Slain in Retribution for RTI Work
Murder Highlights Need for Whistleblower and Activist Protection

Pune, India — Several men attacked and murdered Indian RTI activist Satish Shetty with swords the morning of January 13, in a killing that activists say is the result of Shetty’s RTI work. To date, local police have taken five men into custody for Shetty’s murder, including lawyer Vijay Dabhade and several of his associates. Several of the men that carried out the alleged contract killing may still be at large. Indian activists say that Shetty’s brutal murder highlights the lack of protection afforded to activists and whistleblowers. More >>

14 JANUARY 2010
Argentina: Declassification of Military Records on Human Rights
By Carlos Osorio

(Disponible en español)

Buenos Aires, Argentina — On January 5, 2010, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner issued Decree 4/2010 lifting the classification of all military records related to activities of the armed forces between 1976 and 1983. The decree was prompted by thousands of requests to the Ministry of Defense coming from hundreds of judges carrying out trials for human rights violations committed under the Argentine dictatorship. It is estimated that 30,000 people were disappeared, many more illegally detained, tortured, and killed by the security forces at the time. More >>

19 NOVEMBER 2009
Access Info Unveils “Question to Brussels” Report on Requesting EU Information

Brussels, Belgium — In April 2009, an internal guide from the EU Directorate General (DG) for Trade revealed that public officials were being given tips on how not to record information and how to avoid providing documents to the public. Access Info has launched a report on its follow-up investigations into the internal guides of 16 other DGs. The report, “Question to Brussels: How Should a Citizen Request EU Documents?" More >>

16 NOVEMBER 2009
In Shanghai, President Obama Recognizes Access to Information as Universal Right

Shanghai, China — On his first trip to Asia, President Obama made unequivocal statements about access to information as a universal human right at a rare town-hall style meeting of university students November 16. Over 2 years ago, the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Open Government Information (OGI Regulations) were published on April 24, 2007, and became effective one year later—a turning point for the deeply ingrained culture of government secrecy in China. More >>

20 OCTOBER 2009
New Report on Aid Transparency: Not Available! Not Accessible!

Lack of Transparency of Aid Funds Opens Door to Corruption and Ineffectiveness

Madrid, Spain — Transparency NGO Access Info Europe released a report on October 20 entitled “Not Available! Not Accessible!” to coincide with the opening of the International Aid Transparency Initiative’s conference of donors and recipient governments in the Hague. The report shows how donor governments are failing to make available the information needed to prevent corruption in international aid projects. More >>

16 OCTOBER 2009
Justice Minister Rejects Much-Needed Reforms to Canada's 26-Year-Old Transparency Law

Recommendations Called for Broad Expansion of Information Commissioner’s Mandate

Ottawa, Canada — In June 2009, the House of Commons committee on access to information, privacy, and ethics made recommendations to modernize and expand the scope of Canada’s 26-year-old Access to Information Act. However, Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson rejected these recommendations as cumbersome and unnecessary, sparking complaints that the Conservatives are reneging on campaign promises. More >>

30 SEPTEMBER 2009
OSCE Ambassador Statements Mar International Right to Know Day Event

The head of the the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Paraschiva Badescu, committed a diplomatic faux pas in the middle of International Right to Know Day, asserting that requests for information "need to be justified." More >>

25 SEPTEMBER 2009
The World Prepares for International Right To Know Day, 28 September 2009

The 7th International Right to Know Day on 28th of September 2009 will mark a year of historic advances for the right of access to information and will be celebrated by the Freedom of Information Advocate’s Network which has around 200 organisations in 75 countries who are calling for universal respect for the public’s right to know.  More >>

21 SEPTEMBER 2009
Follow freedominfo.org on Twitter!

Managing Editor Yvette M. Chin will be twittering from the 6th International Conference of Information Commissioners in Oslo, Norway, September 27-30, 2009.

25 AUGUST 2009
US Torture Files and Access to Human Rights Information

By Jesse Franzblau and Emilene Martinez-Morales

Washington, DC — The US government’s August 24, 2009, release of a controversial CIA 2004 Inspector General report on torture brings new attention to the issue of how information on human rights abuses is treated and should be treated under freedom of information laws. More >>

17 JULY 2009
“Safeguarding the Right to Information: Report of the People’s RTI Assessment 2008” in India

A Comprehensive Look at the Implementation and Use of India’s RTI Act

New Delhi, India — In the first two years of access-to-information implementation in India, about 1.6 million requests for information were made in urban areas, while an additional 400,000 applications were made in the rural villages. Taking such a large-scale access-to-information regime head on, “Safeguarding the Right to Information: Report of the People’s RTI Assessment 2008” is the first broad-based, nation-wide study of RTI implementation and usage in India. More >>

19 JUNE 2009
12 European Countries Sign First International Convention on Access to Official Documents

Advocates Urge 37 Remaining Council of Europe Members to Sign

Tromsø, Norway — On June 18, 2009, 12 of 47 member-states of the Council of Europe signed the Convention on Access to Official Documents, making history as the “first international binding legal instrument that recognizes a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities.” More >>

12 JUNE 2009
Debate about PM Gordon Brown’s Proposed Changes to UK Freedom of Information Act

Discussion Rekindled about Cabinet Minutes and Revelations of Widespread MP Corruption

London, United Kingdom — Civil society organizations and the news media have expressed mixed feelings about Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s proposed changes to the United Kingdom’s Freedom of Information Act. Official documents could now be routinely released after 20 years instead of 30 years, and the Act could be extended to include private companies engaged in public sector work, according to Brown’s June 10 statement to the House of Commons. However, citing the “need to strengthen protection for particularly sensitive material,” exemptions from the law could be expanded, specifically excluding Cabinet papers and information about the Royal Family. More >>

27 MAY 2009
Developments in Brazil

President Lula da Silva Sends Draft FOI Bill to Congress

National Archive Launches Website with Historical Records from Dictatorship

Recent developments in Brazil have fueled a growing debate on open government, historical memory, and truth and justice initiatives in the country. More >>

22 MAY 2009
Caucasus FOI Advocates Discuss Common Problems and Plan Cooperation

May 2009 Workshop in Georgia Compares FOI Laws and Practices Across Region

Telavi, Georgia — Some 25 freedom of information advocates and practitioners from the Caucasus region convened on May 8-11, 2009, to compare the laws and the practices across the region and to outline some common strategies to strengthen the right of access in these countries. Organized by the National Security Archive together with its partners from Tbilisi State University, the workshop included participants from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, and the United States, and representatives of the leading FOI organizations in each country, meeting for two days of presentations and discussion in Telavi, and a session at the State Security Archive of Georgia in Tbilisi. More >>

8 MAY 2009
Jimmy Carter Presses for Greater Access to Information in the Americas

Sao Paulo Gives Jimmy Carter Highest Award in Recognition of Human Rights

Former US President Jimmy Carter publicly pressed for widespread support for Brazil’s pending transparency law last week. The government has pledged to pass an access to information law this year, as reported previously by freedominfo. On Sunday, May 3rd, Carter was given the Ordenm do Ipiranga Award by Sao Paulo Governor Jose Serra, recognizing Carter’s work on human rights and democracy promotion in the region. The next day, Carter visited with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, as part of a South American tour promoting transparency and open government in the region. More >>

1 MAY 2009
Guatemala’s Transparency Law in Action
Over 8,000 NGOs and Private Contractors Also Subject to the Law

Guatemala City, Guatemala — On April 21, 2009, Guatemala’s Law for Free Access to Public Information went into effect, officially allowing citizens to request information from 1,000 government offices and over 8,000 NGOs that manage public resources. Manfredo Marroquín of the citizen action group Acción Ciudadana made a symbolic first information request the day the law went into action and received in response information from the Vice President on the salaries of his staff. More >>

21 APRIL 2009
A Landmark Day in Chile as New Transparency Law Comes into Effect
Santiago, Chile — Yesterday Chile’s Transparency and Access to Public Information Law (Law 20.2285) came into force, marking a significant step toward making the Chilean government more transparent and responsive to the Chilean people. The law applies to all levels of government, from the federal ministries to the municipal governments, including the armed forces, the police, and the public security forces. The inclusion of the military and police under the law’s mandates is especially significant, given Chile’s recent history of military dictatorship. More >>

14 APRIL 2009
European Court of Human Rights: Right to Information Essential to Free Expression
Strasbourg, France — In a landmark decision today, the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe found in favor of Társaság a Szabadságjogokért, the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, in its complaint against the Hungarian government. This is the first time the European Court of Human Rights has unanimously recognized that freedom of expression, as mandated by Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights, also includes the right to information from public bodies. More >>

10 APRIL 2009
Moldova: Acces-Info Releases Evaluation of Access to Public Information
Experts found that, although the Moldovan government improved somewhat in communicating with the public, the passing of the State Secrets Law and other deficiencies diminish the positive impact of the government’s reforms. More >>

7 APRIL 2009
Brazil Pledges to Pass Right to Information Bill
Brasilia, Brazil — Lula Government Drafting New Law with High-Level Support; Civil Society/Media Coalition Campaigns for Access to Information. International Seminar April 1-2 Opens Public Debate on Proposed Law; First Draft Lacks Independent Agency for Implementation and Appeals. More >>

7 APRIL 2009
Jordanian Civil Society Group Organizes Freedom of Information Training
Amman, Jordan — In February, the Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center (UJRC), in conjunction IREX, held a series of 2-day training workshops. More >>

7 APRIL 2009
Cairo Declaration Embodies Fundamental Consensus on the Access to Information in the Arab World
Cairo, Egypt — In January, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), the National Council of Human Rights, and the Center of Media Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa organized a regional conference in Cairo for the Arab Freedom of Information Network. Representatives from six countries (Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Palestine, Mauritania, and Yemen) attended the conference, which included government officials, journalists, and advocates. More >>

20 MARCH 2009
Active Duty Chief of Police Arrested for 25-Year Old Political Disappearance of Labor Activist
Guatemala City, Guatemala — March 5, 2009: A long-awaited break in one of Guatemala’s most notorious human rights crimes, Héctor Roderico Ramírez Ríos, a Guatemalan police officer, has been arrested in connection with the abduction and disappearance of labor activist Edgar Fernando García 25 years ago. Ríos’s arrested was the result of an investigation into García’s disappearance by Guatemala’s Human Rights Prosecutor using records recently found in the former National Police archives. More >>

24 FEBRUARY 2009
UK Justice Minister Jack Straw Vetoes the Release of Pre-Iraq Cabinet Minutes
Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw today used his veto power to block the release of minutes from two controversial cabinet meetings in March 2003, when the British government signed off on joining the Bush administration's invasion of Iraq. More >>

24 FEBRUARY 2009
US Documents Released Through Freedom of Information Act Requests Introduced as Evidence in Spanish Court Hearing Guatemala Genocide Case
Official documents from American and Guatemalan government files were presented as evidence last week in Spain’s National Court—the Audiencia Nacional—and turned over to Judge Santiago Pedraz. However, the Guatemalan documentary record remains largely inaccessible, despite rulings by the Guatemalan court and even a presidential order. More >>

5 FEBRUARY 2009
New Regulations Require Israeli Government to Disclose Environmental Information
On February 2, 2009, the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, approved new regulations that would compel Israeli public authorities to make environmental information available to the public. More >>

27 JANUARY 2009
Russian Government Heeds Civil Society's Call for Access to Information Law
On January 21, 2009, the same day that US President Barack Obama took decisive steps for transparency and accountability in the US government, the lower chamber of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, passed the Bill on Ensuring Access to Information about Activities of State Organs and Organs of Local Administration. More >>

23 JANUARY 2009
Day One: President Obama Pledges to Open Government
International Openness Advocates Applaud US Reforms
On Day One of his administration, President Barack Obama took authoritative steps to "create an unprecedented level of openness" in the US government through an executive order and two presidential memoranda. More >>

19 DECEMBER 2008
Council of Europe Adopts Weak Access to Information Convention
New convention fails to consider concerns of civil society groups, information commissioners, and parliamentarians. More >>

13 AUGUST 2008
Chile Becomes Latest Latin American Nation to Enact FOIA Law
Chile has become the latest country in Latin America and the world to promulgate a Freedom of Information Act law. More >>

5 AUGUST 2008
President Carter Disseminates Atlanta Declaration to Advance Right to Information Worldwide
Last month, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter forwarded the Atlanta Declaration and Plan of Action for the Advancement of the Right to Information to all heads of state and leaders of the major international organizations and financial institutions. More >>

17 JULY 2008
NIGERIA: FOI proposal now the oldest unpassed bill
The freedom of information bill brought before the Nigerian National Assembly in 1999 has now become the oldest unpassed legislation still pending before that body, according to the influential newspaper This Day. More >>

17 JULY 2008
PAKISTAN: Access to Information Advocates Criticize Proposed Freedom of Information Bill
The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) this week held a consultation on the draft Freedom of Information Bill of 2008, which is likely to soon be tabled for consideration by the legislature. More >>

4 APRIL 2008
Council of Europe ducks open government advocates' calls for reform; adopts weak convention on access to information that falls short of international standards
Last week in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe's Steering Committee on Human Rights adopted a controversial draft of a new European Convention on access to information—a draft that fails to address criticisms and suggestions from civil society and government officials and even adds a new exemption for heads of state and royal households. More >>

18 JANUARY 2008
United States: First FOIA Reform Bill In More Than A Decade Becomes Law
Two weeks after President Bush signed landmark legislation to reform the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) the first public discussion between officials and openness advocates was held this week. More >>

12 DECEMBER 2007
Information Commissioners Hold 5th International Conference in New Zealand
Information commissioners, government officials, and civil society representatives from around the world met at the 5th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) in Wellington, New Zealand, November 26-29. More >>

8 NOVEMBER 2007
European Ombudsman Finds Maladministration by European Commission for Failure to Produce Annual Report
Acting on a complaint brought by the European watchdog group Statewatch, the European Ombudsman this week found maladministration by the European Commission for its failure to produce an annual report of access to documents for 2005. More >>

7 NOVEMBER 2007
Council of Europe committee puts off decision on draft access to information convention, permits more time for input and improvements
The Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Human Rights (CDDH), meeting to consider the draft text of a European Convention on Access to Official Documents, decided to put off a decision to provide more time for the Group of Specialists to finish its Explanatory Memorandum and to gather further input from member states regarding improvements to the convention. More >>

6 AUGUST 2007
U.S. Congress Passes Freedom of Information Act Reform Bill
The United States Senate Friday joined the House of Representatives in passing bipartisan legislation that will fix several of the most glaring problems with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act. More >>

20 JUNE 2007
In First Year, Germany's Federal Agencies Struggle to Adapt to FOIA - But Requesters Off to Slow Start as Well
The federal administration is still struggling to adapt to the new openness required by Germany's Freedom of Information Act, but usage of the new law has been very low in the first year, with relatively few requests filed. More >>

20 JUNE 2007
Argentina Celebrates First "National Right to Public Information Week": May 20-27, 2007
Argentina has joined Mexico and the United States in creating a week-long celebration of open government. On May 20-27, Argentine newspapers and civil society organizations carried out the first Semana Nacional del Derecho a la Información Pública. More >>

21 MAY 2007
International FOI Advocates Protest Draft Amendments that would Weaken Bulgarian Public Information Act
Members the International Freedom of Information Advocates Network sent a letter to the Bulgarian National Assembly opposing draft amendments to the Bulgarian access to information law accepted by the Assembly earlier this month. More >>

19 APRIL 2007
European Commission proposes reforms, seeks public input on greater access to EU documents
The European Commission yesterday published a Green Paper and launched a new public consultation process to reform existing rules on public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission records. More >>

15 MARCH 2007
UNITED STATES : Sunshine Week 2007 brings major audit releases, congressional action on FOIA reform
During Sunshine Week, several groups released landmark audits of government openness and Congress moved forward with significant reform measures to fix the broken FOIA system. More >>

15 MARCH 2007
MEXICO: Civil society observes first annual Mexico Abierto
During the week of March 11-17, Mexico's civil society is observing the first annual Mexico Abierto to promote an open dialogue on government transparency and the citizen's right to know. More >> 

9 FEBRUARY 2007
Wolfowitz Launches Probe Into Leak of Board Meeting Minutes
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz has launched an internal investigation into who provided Fox News with the "raw" minutes of a World Bank board meeting in January, a document that transparency advocates say should routinely be made public. More >>

12 OCTOBER 2006
Inter-American Court Finds Fundamental Right of Access to Information
In the first decision of its kind from an international tribunal, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled yesterday that there is a fundamental human right to access government information. More >>

28 SEPTEMBER 2006 The Year in Openness Freedom of Information Makes News Around the World On International Right to Know Day, read about how the right to information has advanced around the world in the past year and view headlines generated by people using FOI laws to reveal information about government policies, spending, health and safety, and more.

22 SEPTEMBER 2006
Hungarian Government Releases NATO Secrecy Policy Document
The Hungarian security agency recently released a NATO policy document describing previously-secret standards for the protection of classified information by member countries. More >>

7 SEPTEMBER 2006
Australia: High Court Sides with Bureaucrats, Rolling Back Right to Information
The Australian High Court yesterday dealt a crushing blow to the country's 24-year-old Freedom of Information Law, setting a precedent that permits government bureaucrats to deny public requests for information on the basis of broad claims of potential harm. More >>

31 AUGUST 2006
UPDATE: Victory for Right to Information in India
In a resounding victory for the right to information in India, the government dropped its efforts to amend the RTI Act during the session of Parliament that closed on August 25. More >>

18 AUGUST 2006
INDIA: Right to Information in Jeopardy
Just six months after the Right to Information Act came into force, the bureaucrats in the Indian government are on the verge of rolling back the Act's progressive access provisions. More >>

18 AUGUST 2006
MEXICO: Newsweekly Asks for Access to Contested Ballots, Uses Access to Information Act to Request Independent Count
In the spirit of the right to know Mexican newsweekly Proceso has requested access to documents, tally sheets and ballots pertaining to the July 2, 2006 presidential elections via four different requests through Mexico's Freedom of Information Law. More >>

14 JULY 2006
Using FOI Laws in Mexico in Defense of the Environment

Environmental groups in Mexico, from the southern state of Chiapas to Coahuila on the U.S. border, are actively using access to information laws to directly impact ecological policies. Over twenty prominent members of the environmental community in Mexico shared their experiences in the June 26 workshop "Documents in Action: How to Use Freedom of Information Laws in Defense of the Environment," an event organized by the National Security Archive and Mexican NGO Presencia Ciudadana and held in Mexico City. English - Español

31 MAY 2006
FOI: Info Commissioners Meet in Manchester
4th International Conference Separates Officials, NGOs

Delegates from more than 40 countries participated this month in the 4th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC), which took place in Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 22nd and May 23rd, hosted by the U.K. Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas.

18 APRIL 2006
UGANDA: Access to Information Act Comes into Force
A new Access to Information Act will take effect in Uganda this week. President Yoweri Museveni signed the act into law last year after it was passed by Parliament pursuant to Article 41 of the Ugandan Constitution, which guarantees all citizens the right to information and directs parliament to implement the right. Each government department and agency is required to designate an information officer before April 20, when the law officially becomes operational. Read the 2005 law

22 MARCH 2006
UNITED STATES: Open government advocates, media, public celebrate Sunshine Week
The second annual Sunshine Week was observed in the United States, March 12-18, 2006 to focus national attention on the need for more open government and access to information. Events included a teleforum discussion with supporters of open government around the country, a congressional oversight hearing on classification practices and secrecy, a FOIA Day conference featuring panel discussions and awards for leading FOI advocates, and a PBS special on government secrecy. More >>

22 MARCH 2006
Countries around the world closer to securing full right to information

Cameroon - Fifty participants from citizens groups met at a seminar on March 16 to debate proposals for an access to information law. In attendance was the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Communication Mr. Laurent-Antoine Medjo Mintom, who called on participants to prepare a document that could be used by the Government to enable Cameroonians to have more access to State information.
"Cameroon; South West: Easing Access to Information," AllAfrica News, Mar. 17, 2006.

Cayman Islands - After a draft Freedom of Information bill was formally proposed in the Cayman Islands, the campaign for its passage is in full swing. Currently, the Government is working to raise awareness about the new law through mailings and public meetings, and is seeking feedback from the public about how best to implement the new law.
Press release, "Cayman Islands - FOI Campaign in Full Swing," Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (Feb. 23, 2006).

Honduras - Alliance 72, a coalition of civil society organizations, last month met with members of Congress to express support for the submitted Transparency Law. The also encouraged lawmakers who are to debate the proposed legislation to remain true to its spirit, including ensuring the right of citizens to request information from the government and rights of appeal and written rationale in cases of denial.
"Alliance 72 submits its recommendations on the 'Transparency Law' to Congress," Probidad (Feb. 8, 2006), http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/72127.

Pakistan - NGO the Centre for Peace and Development Initiative (CPDI) seeks changes to what it calls the "flawed and restrictive rules" of the 2002 Freedom of Information Ordinance. In particular, CPDI urged the government to reduce the high fees currently charged to requesters and called for the establishment of fee waiver privileges for poor requesters, journalists, and civil society groups.
"Pakistan: Changes to Freedom of Information law sought," Dawn (Feb. 14, 2006), http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=39190

22 MARCH 2006
INDIA: Citizens charged prohibitive fees to access government information
The Indian freedom of information law, passed last year, guarantees that the public may inspect all information held by government agencies. However, the government claims that the significant costs of collecting and copying so many records have forced it to charge higher fees to citizens who seek information. For example, one poor farmer in Chhattisgarh sought information from a local government body regarding paddy field purchases; the authorities found and photocopied more than 90,000 documents and sent the farmer, who earns less than $1 per day, a bill for 182,000 rupees ($4,100).
SOURCE: Alok Prakash Putul, "Indians find information too costly," BBC News (March 14, 2006), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4739306.stm.

FEBRUARY 2006
New Report: The IFAI and Mexico's Culture of Transparency
A new report, released on 20 February 2006, looks at the successes of the Mexican Federal Institute for Access to Public Information (IFAI) after 4 years in existence, finding IFAI to be a model institution for other countries. The report also identifies several weaknesses of IFAI and recommends strategies for guaranteeing its independence and expand its functions within the government.  Read the full report >>

FEBRUARY 2006
German Federal Foreign Office charges excessive fees for FOIA requests, deterring requesters
For requests filed under the new Federal Freedom of Information Act, the Foreign Office has been charging high fees for searching and copying of documents; in addition, no request will be filled unless payment is made in advance. In one recent case cited by Heise Online, a requester was charged 107.20 euros for a four-page response to a request the Foreign Office had designated as "simple" (106.80 euros for compilation of the documents and 40 eurocents for copying).

Walter Keim, an expert on Freedom of Information in Germany, has filed a follow-up request for the same documents, to determine whether the search and review fees will be reduced.
Read Walter Keim's application >>

10 FEBRUARY 2006
ALBANIA: New secrecy bill threatens to undermine Right to Information Act
On February 10, 2006, the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Albanian group Center for the Development and Democratization of Institutions sent a letter to the Speaker of the Albanian Assembly, urging the Assembly to reject a new draft law on classified information. The Bill would create a new category of "restricted information," which allows "a limitless loophole for denying legitimate requests for information," according to Darian Pavli of the Open Society Justice Initiative.  Read the letter >>

25 JANUARY 2006
Macedonian Parliament Adopts Long-Awaited Freedom of Information Law
The Parliament of Macedonia today adopted a FOI Law. The law will go into force on June 1, 2006. The law establishes the State Commission for free access, which would have authority to rule on complaints from individuals about the government's refusal to provide information, after publishing in Official Gazette of Macedonia. More >>

JANUARY 2006
Transparency demanded on demolitions of illegal structures by Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Member of the National Advisory Council Aruna Roy and transparency activist Shekhar Singh (National Campaign for People's Right to Information) have asked the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to publicise the names of all the officers responsible for allowing building code violations, in addition to the list of buildings itself. They have also asked for the criteria used to identify violating structures. More >>

SOURCE: Arvind Kejriwal, "Transparency demanded on Delhi demolitions," India Together (2 January 2006).

JANUARY 2006
Hungarian Civil Liberties Union speaks out against proposed law on classified data, Parliament suspends discussion
A new proposal for a restrictive classified data act was introduced in the Parliament in December. Several NGOs, including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, the Press Freedom Center, and Protect the Future demanded that the draft be thrown out. The future of the draft is not clear, but for now its suspension in Parliament is a temporary victory for freedom of information in Hungary.  Read more on HCLU website >>

JANUARY 2005
Kharkiv Group for Human Rights Protection (KHPG) Open Letter to President Andriyovych Challenges "Illegal Classification"
In its January 2005 letter, KHPG called for the declassification and publication of Presidential decrees and other Resolutions that have been concealed under the illegal stamps "For official use only," "Not to be printed," "Not to be published." KHPG contends that these stamps have been used to "conceal information about the corruption of high-ranking officials and those executive bodies which serve them, these being the State Administration of Affairs, the Constitutional Court, the High Council of Justice etc." More >>

14 DECEMBER 2005
New Bush Executive Order on FOIA Aims to Improve Government Responsiveness; Impact on Transparency Unclear
The Bush administration's new Executive Order 13392 on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) acknowledges that federal FOIA systems are currently in need of great improvement and heightened responsiveness to members of the public seeking information through the FOIA. More >>

18 AUGUST 2005
GERMANY: Federal freedom of information
German Data Protection Commissioner to become Freedom of Information Commissioner

Under the new German Freedom of Information Law, which will enter into force on January 1, 2006, the current Federal Data Protection Commissioner Peter Schaar will also assume the job of Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information. More >>

11 AUGUST 2005
MOLDOVA: Threats to information access
Openness advocates criticize government bills; state secrets bill introduces "stunning" concept of "professional secrets"

Journalism groups and non-governmental organizations in Moldova have joined together in formal statements criticizing two proposed bills by the government that would threaten newly-won rights of citizen access to information in that post-Soviet country.

A proposed bill on state secrets includes a new concept of "professional secrets" that the openness advocates term "outright stunning," since it contradicts European and international legal standards, according to a joint statement.

Another proposed bill to make access provisions more unified actually would cancel Moldova's access law, passed in 2000, according to the groups' statement.

15 JULY 2005
UK: "Secrecy without good reason is no longer an option"
Information Commissioner releases Annual Report, reviews progress under new FOIA

The British Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) released its Annual Report this week, assessing the effectiveness of initial implementation of the new Freedom of Information, both at the ICO and government-wide. Information Commissioner Richard Thomas notes that since the Act's entry into force in January 2005 he has witnessed "a spirit of greater openness starting to change the culture of government at all levels. Secrecy without good reason is no longer an option." Read the Press Release here.

According to statistics contained in the new report, the percentage of UK public authorities aware of their obligations with regard to freedom of information has risen from 14% in 2000-2001 to 81% in 2004-2005.

The report also outlines the significant reorganization and staff hiring that has taken place at the ICO over the past year. The Office has supplemented its previous capacity, under the data protection regime, in order to fulfill its new FOIA obligations including: guiding government bodies and promoting greater access to official information, handling complaints under the new act, and continuing to ensure protection of personal information in light of the FOIA. Over the past seven months, the ICO has received 1,157 complaints about delays and denial of requests. The ICO has issued decision notices in only 19 of these cases, but many have been resolved informally.

In addition, to assist more than 100,000 public bodies and government departments in adjusting to the new law, the ICO has released a list of its Ten Top Tips for complying with the Freedom of Information Act. The Tips encourage FOIA practitioners to be positive about the new law and the benefits of transparency, to anticipate requests and be proactive in publishing information, and to follow the Act's procedural guidelines, including meeting the deadlines for responding and providing a complete explanation for any refusal.

For the lay user of the new British law, the Campaign for Freedom of Information has produced a Short Guide to the Freedom of Information Act and Other New Access Rights, available on their website along with press releases and other updated information about FOIA in the UK.

24 JUNE 2005
UK: Government departments received approximately 13,400 requests under new Freedom of Information Act during first three months and processed 86%
Freedom of information advocates cite "unacceptable delays" and "routine disregard" for statutory procedures

The British Department for Constitutional Affairs today released its first quarterly report, providing statistics and commentary on the implementation and use of the new Freedom of Information Act during its first three months in force (January - March 2005). The report stated that 13,400 requests had been received government-wide, 7,700 by the Departments of State. Eighty-two percent of the requests were processed within the statutory time limit and 86 percent have been processed overall. Of the requests that received substantive responses, 56 percent were granted in full, 13 percent were withheld in part, and 18 percent were withheld in full.

The Campaign for Freedom of Information, a non-profit organization working to ensure effective implementation of the FOIA, responded to the new report in a press release issued today with a charge that the new government statistics highlighted "unacceptable delays" and showed that a "'disturbing' level of requests were not being dealt with within the Act's time limits." In addition, they cited significant variation in response times among government departments; the Home Office, for example, had the worst record, failing to acknowledge or respond to requests within the 20-day time limit in 60% of cases.

24 JUNE 2005
INDIA: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative issues Conference Report

Effective Implementation: Preparing to Operationalise the Right to Information Act, 2005

5 JANUARY 2005
GERMANY: The debate over a national FOI law
On December 17, 2004 the German Bundestag heard the first reading of a proposed national Freedom of Information law, an English translation of which has been posted by freedominfo.org. Germany and Luxembourg are the last two European countries lacking a national law guaranteeing public access to government information.

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