Legislation: Generic advice for drafters of transparency legislation by Daniel Shuman, policy director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a non-profit organization in Washington.
He makes eight main points:
- Understand the context
- Use flexible implementation authority
- Create external checks on implementation
- Make information public by default
- Build in feedback loops
- Keep close watch on cost
- Watch out for tricky legislative language
- Figure out where to embed a program
Transparency Gaps? A call for papers for the Transparency and Open Government Panel to be held at the next International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) Conference in Birmingham (March 30 – April 1 2015). Deadline is Oct. 15.
“For this IRSPM 2015 panel, specific attention will be given to contributions focusing on the increasing number of ‘blind spots’ of transparency; those situation in which the might of transparency has been curtailed either through organisational changes (service delivery by private or non-profit entities), political and financial decisions (disinvestment in transparency mechanisms), policy development (internationalisation), sector specific trends (growth and opacity of the security and military sector), or by the very growth of transparency itself. In the same way, civil society’s increasing demands for transparency, including from political institutions (government, parliament) can be considered.”
Peru: A database which gathers the asset declarations of public officials was released by Suma Ciudadana and ?Ojo P?blico?, an independent team of journalists.
New Zealand: The State Services Commission issues guidance “intended to assist officials processing requests for, or where the scope of the request includes, draft reports, documents or correspondence under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).”
United States: “Infogagement: Citizenship and Democracy in the Age of Connection,” a report by Matt Leighninger for Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement includes chapter on the changing media, social media and open data.
United States: The US FOIA ombudsman’s office writes about its Fifth anniversary.
International Organizations: Lise Johnson of the Columbia Center for Sustainable Development has published a report explaining the transparency rules at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). “In order to promote greater awareness and understanding of the Convention, this paper reproduces its text and, after each article, provides additional comments on the provisions. The commentary is based on attendance at UNCITRAL’s sessions, as well as written public records of the negotiations.”
United Kingdom: A Motherboard article titled “The UK’s Spy Agency Is Even More FOIA-Proof Than the NSA.”
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