Members of the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet), the group that started International Right to Know Day in 2002 have listed the network’s ten main achievements over the last ten years, its ten main challenges and its ten core goals for the next ten years.
The 10-10-10 Statement covers both goals of the organization and general goals to promote access to information.
Top 10 Achievements
International Recognition as a Human Right
· RTI is now firmly recognised as an internationally guaranteed human right, with decisions at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and European Court of Human Rights, and global recognition by the UN Human Rights Committee
Rapid Increase in National Legal Recognition
· The number of national RTI laws has more than doubled since 2002, from 42 to 93 countries, comprising over three-quarters of the world’s population, with a concomitant growth in constitutional recognition for RTI
Holding the Line
· In countries around the world, attempts to scale back RTI legislation have been defeated
Standard-setting
· There has been strong consolidation of standards regarding what constitutes a good RTI law and good implementation (for example in the form of official and NGO statements and standards, model laws, court decisions and development of better practices)
Building the Network
· There are ten times as many members of FOIAnet, from less than 20 in 2002 to over 200 today, and over 600 people sharing information on our dynamic discussion list
· We have an effective track record of sharing information and experiences, and of providing mutual support in addressing challenges and problems
· Regional networks have developed in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and South Asia ?Media Interest ?· There is significant engagement by the media on RTI in terms both of reporting on it and using it ?Increase in Capacity ?· Civil society groups have developed strong capacity and expertise on RTI at both the national and international levels ?· A similar growth in expertise has occurred in other communities, such as officials, academics and journalists ?Increase in Profile ?· There have been positive developments in terms of the profile of RTI in many countries, including overall public awareness, use of RTI laws, and public debate about the issue ?Engagement of International Community ?· Many bilateral donors and inter-governmental development bodies – including institutions like the World Bank, UNDP and OSCE– now have substantial programmes in place promoting RTI, while others – including the special international mandates (rapporteurs) on freedom of expression, UNESCO and the COE – have done important standard-setting and monitoring work in this area ?Openness of the International Community ?· A number of IGOs, including most of the international financial institutions (IFIs), have adopted or significantly enhanced their own openness commitments
Top 10 Challenges
Despite these achievements, many challenges remain, while some new ones have arisen. Some of the key challenges are:
The Other Half
· Less than one-half of the countries in the world have adopted RTI laws, despite long-standing local campaigns in a number of these countries
Implementation
· Implementation remains a significant challenge in many countries, including in the following areas: poor proactive disclosure; failure to process requests (either at all or in accordance with the rules); poor record management systems; weak oversight systems; low levels of demand; low levels of awareness
Backlash on Exceptions
· There is a growing trend to apply some exceptions – notably national security and privacy – increasingly broadly in many countries, and some countries have adopted or are trying to adopt overbroad general secrecy laws
Backlash Against Oversight Bodies
· In some countries, there have been attempts to undermine the effectiveness of oversight bodies – for example through reducing their independence or funding – while other countries have refused?to establish such bodies in the first place
Maintaining Momentum
· After a long period of rapid progress, it may become increasingly difficult to maintain the level of effort on RTI issues, for both civil society and officials
Attacks on RTI Activists
· Physical attacks are being perpetrated on RTI activists in too many countries, while whistleblowers are too often subjected to legal or other forms of reprisal
Funding
· Groups promoting RTI already face challenges in securing funds and there is a risk that the funding available for this sort of work will diminish
Relating to Other Communities
· RTI groups need stronger relationships with other support communities, such as IT experts who can help us build tools to enhance RTI and journalists who can tell positive stories about RTI
Managing Growth
· FOIAnet has expanded significantly; it needs to ensure this growth remains sustainable
Openness of the International Community
· Serious commitments to openness by inter-governmental organisations (IGOs) remain very limited outside of some IFIs
Top 10 Goals
Much remains to be done to realise the universal right to information. Some of the key goals for the upcoming years are listed below. As with Achievements, FOIAnet and its members understand the need to work with other actors to promote the following goals:
Legal Expansion
· Law reform leads to most countries in the world having strong RTI laws which are in line with international standards
Development as a Human Right
· The full potential of recognition of RTI as a human right is realised, with all of the implications of this in terms of scope of the right, fees and reuse of information, and exceptions
Advances in Implementation
· Effective efforts are made to address implementation challenges, including the culture of secrecy which still prevails within many public authorities
Better Practices (legal and implementation)
· Research is conducted to identify better practices, in terms of both legal frameworks and implementation
Awareness
· Effective awareness raising efforts are undertaken so that a majority of people in most countries are aware of RTI and how this right enables them to fulfil other rights
Strengthening FOIAnet
· There is continued and sustainable growth of the network, and stronger links are made to different communities
Strengthening Regional Networks
· The system of regional RTI networks expands, these networks grow and there is increasing cross-fertilisation among them
Support for Advocates
· FOIAnet and its members provide effective support to RTI advocates globally in the form of advice, expertise, and solidarity when they come under attack
Recognition
· FOIAnet and its members are widely recognised as the leading sources of expertise and civil society outreach on RTI
Funding
· Adequate, longer-term funding is available to FOIAnet members, and to FOIAnet itself to continue its work, including in terms of facilitating the work of its members
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