3rd Annual Conference Draws Attendees from 50 Countries
Today, freedom of information advocates and government officials who implement access laws around the world gathered in Cancún, Mexico for the 3rd annual International Conference of Information Commissioners, hosted by Mexico’s own commission (IFAI – Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información Pública).
The Mexican organizers reached beyond the ranks of official delegates to bring together a wide range of civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, legal experts, academics, and openness activists from more than 50 countries, ranging from India to Ireland, Argentina to Estonia, Thailand to Peru. Mexico’s own law, enacted in 2002 and in effect since June 2003, has already attracted more than 60,000 requests from the public and produced more than a dozen major success stories against corruption and coverup, according to IFAI’s reports.
Many members of the freedominfo.org network are participating in this week’s conference — probably the largest of its kind ever held — and the program is posted below in Spanish and English.
Also posted below is the Delcaration of Cancún, a document signed by conference participants calling on governments “to promote the full implementation of access to information” and to apply the principles of transparency “to all government decision-making, budgeting, and administrative functions.”
Delcaration of Cancún – Transparency and Accountability: A Commitment to Democracy – English
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