News
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22 July 2010
Liberian House Passes FOI Law
The Liberian House of Representatives on July 22 passed a Freedom of Information bill, forwarding it to the Senate for consideration. The House unanimously approved the bill, which has been under consideration for over two years. Lobbying for the bill were the Liberia Freedom of Expression Coalition, the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform Working […]
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20 July 2010
U.S. Law Orders Extractive Industries to Disclose
A new law in the United States will require oil, gas, and mining companies to disclose their payments to foreign governments and the U.S. government. Added to the financial regulatory reform bill is a provision that will require the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to write within nine months mandating disclosure of payments in their […]
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16 July 2010
New Regulation Requires More Disclosures by Chinese Officials
Top Chinese officials will be required to disclose more about their assets under a regulation that became effective July 11, according to Chinese media, but critics say the rules contain loopholes. “The regulation adds six more items to the list of declarable assets issued in 2006, bringing the total to 14,” reported the official Xinhua […]
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16 July 2010
Liberian House Committee Begins Work on FOIA
A Liberian House Committee has started consideration of a Freedom of Information Act, according to a report by Stephen Binda in the Daily Observer. The committee held a hearing May 19 at which passage of a law was urged by the National Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Liberia, Center for Transparency and Accountability in […]
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16 July 2010
Malaysian State Considering FOI Bill
The legislature in the state of Selangor in Malaysia is considering adoption of a freedom of information law, according to news reports. Shaila Koshy in The Star reported that the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in Selangor is striving to keep the promise it made to voters at the 2008 General Election. The law would cover what […]
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16 July 2010
African Leaders Urged to Support Access to Information Agenda
The Africa Freedom of Information Centre and 47 other groups have sent a letter to African leaders urging them to implement an access to information agenda. The leaders will be meeting for the 15th African Union Summit in Kampala from July 19-27 with an agenda focus on maternal and child health issues. The proposed letter […]
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12 July 2010
Nigerian Legislator Discounts FOI Bill’s Chances
The long-running effort to pass a Freedom of Information law in Nigeria continues to face serious challenges, according to recent media reports. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, the new chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, told reporters July 6 that passage this year was not guaranteed but that lawmakers were working […]
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12 July 2010
World Cup Information Ordered Released
A South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian, has persuaded a court that the World Cup local organizing committee must provide the M&G with all tender documents pertaining to contracts awarded for the World Cup and the Confederations Cup within 30 days. “M&G editor-in-chief Nic Dawes emphasised that the newspaper was not raining on the […]
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12 July 2010
Philippine Coalition Urges Action on FOIA Bill
A coalition of more than 160 civil society groups and personalities has urged the adoption of a Freedom of Information law, according to media reports. “The Right to Know Right Now! Coalition also wants President Benigno Aquino III to include the bill among his priority measures in his State of the Nation Address on […]
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2 July 2010
Legislators Prepare to Try Again on FOI in the Philippines
Legislation to create a Freedom of Information law has been refilled in the Philippine Congress.“This time it will not be killed,” said Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III, quoted in an article by in the Manila Bulletin.. A Freedom of Information (FOI) bill failed to pass in the recently concluded 14th Congress. Bayan Muna Rep. […]
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28 June 2010
Brazil Advances Access Legislation
Brazil is moving toward passage of an access to information law, although most observers sy final action won’t occur until after the upcoming electons. A Senate commission June 16 passed the bill, the first of possibly four Senate commissions that need to act. The approval by the Commission of Constitution, Justice and Citizenship follows House passage, which occurred […]
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25 June 2010
Sierra Leone Cabinet Advances FOI Bill
The Sierra Leone Cabinet June 16 approved a draft Freedom of Information bill. The measure will go to the Parliament within the next four or five weeks.
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4 June 2010
House Fails to Pass FOI Law for Philippines
By Toby McIntosh
The House of Representatives in the Philippines on June 4 was unable to pass a Freedom of Information Act because not enough congressmen showed up. The failure to obtain a quorum on the last day of the congressional session appears to end the high hopes of activists, although several news accounts noted that a … -
2 June 2010
June 4 Last Day for Vote on Philippine FOIA Bill
By Toby McIntosh
Advocates of a Freedom on Information Law for the Philippines are looking at June 4 as the last chance for getting it passed in this session of Congress. Supporters had hoped for quick House approval May 31, but were stymied by House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is delaying action on any legislative matters pending … -
28 May 2010
Passage of FOIA Law in Philippines Imperiled
The seeming excellent prospects for passage of a Freedom of Information Act in the Philippines are being serious threatened as the Congress tries to sort out the election results…
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4 March 2010
Carter Center Releases African Regional Plan of Action to Advance the Right of Access to Information
Participants from the African Regional Conference on the Right of Access to Information have released the Regional Findings and Plan of Action to advance the right of access to information in Africa. The conference, which took place in Accra, Ghana, from February 7-9, examined the specific the political and institutional constraints in Africa that have limited the opportunities […]
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17 February 2010
The Oaxaca Group: Eight Years Later
By Lilia Saúl Rodríguez (liliasaul@gmail.com) Translated by Jesse Franzblau (Disponible en español) www.twitter.com/liliasaul On October 11th, 2001, the Oaxaca Group (an alliance of academics and journalists) presented the Federal Access to Information Law (Ley Federal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información) to the Commission on Governance and Public Security in Mexico’s House of Representatives. In […]
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17 February 2010
Ocho años del Grupo Oaxaca
Por Lilia Saúl Rodríguez (liliasaul@gmail.com) www.twitter.com/liliasaul El 11 de octubre del 2001, el Grupo Oaxaca (que reunió a académicos y periodistas) presentaba la propuesta de Ley Federal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información ante la Comisión de Gobernación y Seguridad Pública de la Cámara de Diputados. En las imágenes, disponibles ahora en el documental […]
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5 February 2010
Avanza Transparencia en México… pero al revés
Por Emilene Martínez Morales (emilene@mexicoinformate.org) http://www.twitter.com/mxinformate En lo que va del año el Gobierno Federal, a través de la Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) y la Secretaría de Gobernación (Segob), ha manifestado un claro interés en debilitar al Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información Pública (IFAI) al proponer que se le den facultades […]
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5 February 2010
Transparency Advances in Mexico. . . in Reverse
By Emilene Martínez Morales (emilene@mexicoinformate.org) Translated by Jesse Franzblau (Disponible en español) http://www.twitter.com/mxinformate 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 […]