News
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7 April 2011
Mexico Informate 2010 Yearbook, Advocacy in Action
By Gabriela Ruiz Visiting researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute On March 16, the Mexico Infórmate network unveiled its 2010 Yearbook, which showcases the activities celebrated during the second annual México Infórmate week (Mexico Get Informed) on Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2010. During the week, freedom […]
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6 April 2011
World Bank Publishes Major Database on FOI Laws
The World Bank April 4 posted a detailed database on freedom of information laws in 88 countries. The Bank does not rate or rank the countries, but the database is expected to be a trove of information for comparative research. The Bank now is moving into research on FOI implementation issues. The database collects information […]
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6 April 2011
Conference in Chile on FOI to Feature Piñera, Many Panels
A two-day conference in Chile will be conducted April 20-21 with the title, “Transparency as Modernization of the State; experiences, key actors and challenges.” Being held at the Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, the conference is scheduled to begin with remarks by Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and the President of the Council for Transparency, […]
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4 April 2011
Mongolia Considering Draft RTI Legislation
The Mongolian parliament is considering right to information legislation proposed by the Ministry of Justice. The draft law was submitted in January 2011, and has strengths and weaknesses, according to a critique by the Centre for Democracy and Law. CLD Executive Director Toby Mendel said: “It has a number of positive features, including a very […]
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4 April 2011
Conference in Nepal Makes Numerous Recommendations
Dozens of recommendations for improving the right to information in Nepal are included in a “Kathmandu Declaration” issued March 29 at the conclusion of a two-day conference of some 150 right- to-information experts. The conference was sponsored by the Freedom Forum and funded by the World Bank. The Freedom Forum website includes links to the […]
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4 April 2011
New Advisory Body Formed on South Asia RTI Issues
A new 16-person body, the South Asia Advisers on the Right to Information, was formed during a two-day long convention in Kathmundu, Nepal, from March 27- 29. Made up of chief information officers, RTI activists and others, the group will discuss “transparency law, norms for information commissions, and capacity building among government officials, media and […]
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1 April 2011
Selangor Passes FOI Bill; First in Malaysia
The Selangor state assembly April 1 passed a freedom of information bill, the first state government in Malaysia to do so. The Center for Independent Journalism Malaysia, which leads the FOI Task Force of the Coalition for Good Governance, hailed an “historic step” while also noting that the final product was improved from the first […]
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1 April 2011
Improvements to Mexican Transparency Law Passed
A handful of potentially harmful proposals to change the Mexican freedom of information law were defeated March 30 as a key congressional committee approved a package of more positive reforms. Although approval by several other committees and the full lower body of Congress still lies ahead, and activists are concerned about the possible opposition from […]
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1 April 2011
UN Body Makes Progress on Article 19 Amplification
The United Nations committee developing an expanded interpretation of Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights will soon publish the results of its deliberations, according to a U.N. official. The Human Rights Committee met March 23-25, and the official said it discussed up to paragraph 25 of the proposed Draft General Comment […]
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1 April 2011
FOI Notes: Two New FOIA Websites Begun in U.S.
United States: A new website developed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) will provide details about every new court challenge to the withholding of information by the Obama administration. The site, supported with a grant from the CS Fund/Warsh-Mott Legacy, is updated daily with the latest court FOIA filings and provides extensive information about […]
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1 April 2011
Sierra Leone Coalition Urges Action on FOIA Bill
The Sierra Leone Freedom of Information Coalition March 28 wrote to President Ernst Bai Koroma expressing “disappointment concerning the delays associated with the enactment of the Right to Access Information Bill.” Promised action on the bill has been postponed by a series of delays in Parliament. The letter chronicled: It was anticipated that the Bill […]
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1 April 2011
Israeli Court Orders Disclosures by Ministry
By Roy Peled Director, Movement for Freedom of Information in Israel The Tel-Aviv administrative court March 30 issued an important ruling, in which it ordered the Ministry of defense to release drafts that were later not adopted by the ministry, in which authors calculated what should be considered “red lines” of minimal food produce that […]
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1 April 2011
Croatian Court Creates Chance to Rewrite FOIA Law
The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia on March 23 overturned the 2010 law on access to information, according to an announcement by Transparency International Croatia (TIC), which brought the lawsuit and said it hopes a better law will be written the next time around. TIC had argued that the Act on the Amendments […]
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1 April 2011
Utah Repeals Controversial Law Restricting Access
The U.S. state of Utah has done a fast reversal, repealing a heavily criticized law that would have restricted public access to some government records. Gov. Gary Herbert signed the repeal bill March 30, and a special committee has began work on redrafting the original legislation, which was hastily passed. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) Open […]
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31 March 2011
Obama Talks Transparency With Activists in Oval Office
Open government activists who met with President Obama March 28 for an unprecedented talk later described the 20-minute conversation in positive terms. In three accounts by those present, the president was described as “clearly engaged” and enthusiastic about making more progress on transparency. The president was given an award for his commitment to transparency, although the […]
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25 March 2011
Indian Government Retreats on Most RTI Proposals
The Indian government has backed down on most of its controversial proposals to amend the right to know law, following pressure from the National Advisory Council. The government is sticking with a proposal to limit applications to one subject, however, according to the Council minutes and a report in the Hindustan Times NAC member Aruna […]
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25 March 2011
EU Official Issues Guidance on Access to Personal Data
The European Data Protection Supervisor March 24 issued a “background paper” on public access to documents containing personal data, to serve as guidance for EU institutions. “The paper explains the updated EDPS position on the matter following the ruling of the European Court of Justice in the Bavarian Lager case on the reconciliation of the […]
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25 March 2011
Amendment to UK FOIA Subject of Hearing
The Campaign for Freedom of Information has recommended a variety of changes to the proposed amendments of the United Kingdom’s freedom of information law. The UK Information Commissioner also submitted extensive comments. Their evidence was presented at a March 24 hearing before the Protection of Freedoms Bill Committee. For video of the meeting, look here. […]
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25 March 2011
FOI Notes: India, U.S., Africa, Open Data
India: CUTS International announced an RTI Toolkit. The toolkit is entitled “Model Framework for Replication: Usages of RTI in Rural Rajasthan, India: Enhancing Transparency and Reforming the Processes.” It explores the need of reforming the service delivery and decision-making processes in three selected national flagship schemes implemented by the Rural Development Department, Government of Rajasthan. […]
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25 March 2011
Niger Government Issues Access to Information Policy
The transitional government in Niger has issued a “Charte d’accès à l’information publique et aux documents administratifs” on access to information. Although the document lacks the force of law, it is being viewed as a positive step toward more transparency, instructing administrative bodies on releasing information. The move was announced in advance of upcoming presidential […]