What’s New
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10 January 2013
EU Ombudsman Blasts EC for Denying Document Access
European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros has blasted the European Commission for denying access to documents concerning its view of the United Kingdom’s decision to opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The ombudsman said the Commission “has breached the Charter of Fundamental Rights by wrongfully refusing to give public access” to the documents and […]
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10 January 2013
Egyptian Government Improves Draft FOI Law
The Egyptian government has proposed a new draft law on access to information which observers called improved but not ideal. Amr Gharbeia, civil liberties director at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, is quoted as saying that the draft is a “good law overall and a major improvement on the previous government draft.” However, he […]
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10 January 2013
FOI Notes: Chile, Social Media, FOI Journalism, Open Data, Social Media, China, Aid Transparency
Chile: Chilean journalists think there´s more transparency in Chile now, but there still are institutions that are very slow to provide the answers. Almost 500 Chilean journalists participated in a survey (in Spanish) by the National Press Association (Asociación Nacional de la Prensa “ANP”) about the state of the access to public information, according to a […]
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10 January 2013
Armenian Center Wins FOI Cases, Collects Legal Fees
The FOI Center of Armenia has won a court case in which it sought access to information on spending in a pre-electoral campaign, according to an FOICA announcement. The court ruled on Dec. 21, 2012, that the Democratic Party of Armenia must provide information requested by the FOICA on April 25. The party ignored the […]
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10 January 2013
Lebanon Drafting Committee Advances FOI Legislation
Freedom of information legislation for Lebanon was approved Nov. 26, 2012, by a drafting subcommittee and is now before the Administration and Justice Committee. The National Network for the Right to Access Information has been pressing for action on bill. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) In October, a subcommittee was formed to review a bill drafted […]
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10 January 2013
Liberian Group Appeals for Access to Asset Disclosures
A Liberian group has appealed to the Information Commissioner for access to the asset disclosure forms of ministers and deputy ministers. Access to the declarations was denied by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC) citing an exemption in the Liberian freedom of information law. The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has filed a […]
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4 January 2013
Hong Kong Ombudsman Says He Will Examine Access Code
Hong Kong’s Ombudsman Alan Lai has announced an investigation into the access to information regime and records management system in Hong Kong. “There have been calls from time to time from the public for the Administration to enhance citizens’ right to access information,” according to the Jan. 4 press release. “The Administration has thus far maintained […]
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4 January 2013
FOI Notes: Call for Articles, U.K., Open Data
Call for Articles on Transparency in Government: PA Times [A U.S. journal on public administration] is planning a March issue on “Transparency in Government: Openness, Collaboration and Accountability.” A request for articles says: “Submit an article that discusses transparency in government and its role in promoting collaboration and accountability. We want to know how local, […]
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4 January 2013
Gergana Jouleva Offers Perspective on the Global Index Concept
By Gergana Jouleva Jouleva is Executive Director of the Access to Information Programme in Bulgaria. This article was published Dec. 12 in the AIP Monthly FOI Newsletter. (And in Bulgarian) Sheila Coronel’s report “Measuring Openness: A survey of transparency ratings and the prospects for a global index” was recently released.[1] Freedom of Information Advocates were […]
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4 January 2013
U.S. Judge Denies Access to Terrorist-Related Documents
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the federal government does not need to disclose internal legal opinions and other documents justifying the use of drones to kill suspected terrorist operatives abroad. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon in a 68-page opinion issued Jan. 2 largely rejected suits brought by the New York Times and […]
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4 January 2013
EU Court Rejects Appeal for Documents on NGO Projects
The European Court of Justice has rejected efforts by an Israeli organization to obtain documents from the European Union on the funding of projects by human rights organizations in Israel. The court ruled on Nov. 27 against NGO Monitor and its president, Gerald Steinberg, a political scientist at Bar Ilan University. Concerned about EU influence […]