What’s New
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29 November 2014
Mozambique Assembly OKs Freedom of Information Law
Mozambique’s Assembly on Nov. 26 unanimously passed a freedom of information bill on the second and final reading. The bill passed on first reading on Aug. 21, in the final days of the ordinary sitting of the Assembly. (See previous FreedomInfo.org article). Final passage came in an extraordinary sitting of the Assembly. The president supports the bill […]
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26 November 2014
Group Rates 169 Think Tanks on Financial Disclosure Levels
By Brandon Church The author is an intern with FreedomInfo.org. Watchdog group Transparify says it is making its voice heard in the world of think tank transparency and will soon be issuing new ratings of 169 think tanks. Transparify first released ratings for these think tanks in a report published May 2014 using a five-star […]
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26 November 2014
UN Expert Group Issues Report on `Data Revolution’
The UN Secretary-General’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on a Data Revolution for Sustainable Development (IEAG) presented a report, A World That Counts: Mobilising The Data Revolution for Sustainable Development. Among its recommendations the group of over 20 international experts convened by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposed that the UN establish a process whereby key stakeholders create a “Global […]
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26 November 2014
FOI Notes: Defending Transparency, FOI and Academia, Pakistani Legal Site, More
Commentary/US: “Why Critics of Transparency Are Wrong,” an article by Gary D. Bass, Danielle Brian and Norman Eisen. The authors write: “In this paper, we respond to the principal myths about transparency that are cropping up in books, academic journals and newspapers across the country, and demonstrate the enduring value of open government. In fact, […]
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24 November 2014
Philippines Committee Passes FOI Bill 10-3 With Dispute
A Philippines House committee on Nov. 24 voted 10-3 to approve a freedom of information bill. The bill is “almost toothless,” charged some emerging critics, the seven-person Makabayan Coalition, whose members voted against the bill. But other lawmakers who have supported the bill and influential, long-time FOI campaigners called the committee bill “genuine and strong.” […]
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20 November 2014
Study Examines Success of FOI Request Platforms
The first study of the growing number of nongovernmental platforms that facilitate freedom of information requests has found limited evidence of measurable impact but some encouraging signs. The 27 sites studied, most of which have emerged in the last four years, have been technologically workable, weathered government resistance and face future sustainability challenges, according to […]
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20 November 2014
Senate Panel Approves Reforms for US FOI Act
The US Senate Judiciary Committee Nov. 20 unanimously approved reform amendments to the Freedom of Information Act. The bipartisan support for a somewhat modified version of the bill (S. 2520) is expected to improve the chances of passage in the Senate this year. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in an opening statement, “We have […]
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20 November 2014
FOI Notes: Advocacy, Open Contracting, Whistleblowers, Opinion, Open Data, More
FOI Advocacy: Rappler in the Philippines published an example-filled article, ‘How access to information laws can help you.” Rappler is “a social news network where stories inspire community engagement and digitally fuelled actions for social change.” Rappler comes from the root words “rap” (to discuss) + “ripple” (to make waves). Separately, the FOI Youth Initiative […]
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19 November 2014
World Bank Previews Study of RTI Law Implementation
The World Bank Nov. 19 previewed a detailed analysis of the factors that determine effective implementation of right to information laws, The analysis is based on a closer look at 12 case studies done over the last several years by the Bank. Analysts coded the information from the studies to isolate factors that influenced implementation effectiveness. […]
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19 November 2014
Latin American Countries to Write Green Access Standards
A regional agreement on access to information in the environmental context for Latin America and the Caribbean will be negotiated, participants at a Nov. 9 at a meeting in Santiago, Chile, decided. Representatives from the 19 Latin American and Caribbean signatory countries of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration – which promotes access to information, […]
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18 November 2014
Senate FOI Bill Stripped Of Deliberative Process Reform
Sponsors of a Senate Freedom of Information Act reform bill have dropped a provision dear to the heart of supporters. Gone is a so-called “public interest balancing test” to evaluate agency claims that disclosures would interfere with the deliberative process, according to a revised text to be considered Nov. 20 by the Senate Judiciary Committee. […]
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17 November 2014
Info Commissioners See Need to Cover More Bodies
Almost two-thirds of information commissioners around the world (63%) think more private bodies in their countries should be covered by the national freedom of information law. The results are reported in the third “International Survey of Information Commissioners,” conducted by the Centre for Freedom of Information, University of Dundee, Scotland. Responses were provided by 53 […]
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17 November 2014
NGOs in Myanmar Pledge Effort to Push RTI Cause
Almost a dozen nongovernment organizations in Myanmar have agreed to work collaboratively towards establishing and implementing a right to information RTI law. The joint statement resulted from a workshop in Yangon hosted by the Local Resource Centre and the Centre for Law and Democracy in collaboration with International Media Support. Issuing the statement were: the […]
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17 November 2014
Professional Groups Endorse FOI Legislation in Ghana
Twenty-five groups, including the Ghana Bar Association, the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana Medical Association, have urged passage of a freedom of information law in Ghana. The groups called on the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to expedite the drafting of amendments to the bill, according to the Ghana News Agency. “We […]
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17 November 2014
Charges Against Oil Officials Sent to Tanzanian Speaker
Two top officials at Tanzania’s state-owned oil agency, arrested Nov. 3 on charges of failing to give requested information to parliament, have been released without charges, according to journalist Kizoto Makoye. The two executives had declined to provide parliament with 26 oil and gas contracts the government signed with foreign and local investors, according to […]
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13 November 2014
US Senate Panel Delays Markup, Chairman Optimistic
The US Senate Judiciary Committee Nov. 13 delayed approval of a freedom of information amendments package, but the chairman predicted passage next week. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in a statement issued to reporters: “I have worked with Senator Cornyn for months on the FOIA Improvement Act. It has broad bipartisan support, including the […]
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13 November 2014
FOI Notes: Latin America, FOI 100, Research, OGP, Privacy, EU
Latin America: Read the minutes (English and Spanish) of the VIII International Meeting of the Red de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública (RTA) in Brasilia Nov. 4-5. “The RTA is a collective space that brings together public institutions responsible for overseeing implementation of Transparency and Access to Information Laws in Latin America. This […]
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12 November 2014
Asia Foundation Report Finds Many Implementation Issues
Awareness of right to know laws in three Southeast Asian countries is very low and public officials report many obstacles to implementing the RTI laws, according to a new report by the Asia Foundation. The study was done in partnership with civil society organizations in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, and with the foundation’s country office […]
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12 November 2014
Nigerian Judge Says FOI Law Not Applicable to States
Nigerian Federal High Court Justice Okon Abang on Oct. 31 ruled that the 36 states of the federation are not subject to the national Freedom of Information Act. The judge ruled the FOI Act is only binding on the federal government and its agencies, rejecting a suit by The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), […]
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12 November 2014
Indian CIC Schedules Hearing On Nov. 21 for Political Parties
The Indian Central Information Commission has scheduled a Nov. 21 hearing on non-compliance by six political parties withy a June 3, 2013, order bringing them under the purview of Right to Information Act. The commission has asked the parties to appear before it and produce all relevant documents. One such order was issued Feb. 7. […]