What’s New
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5 May 2016
Sri Lanka Court Faults Five Minor Clauses in RTI Bill
Sri Lanka’s highest court has declared that five minor parts of a right to information bill are unconstitutional and would need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to become law, but alterations could allow passage on a majority vote. “The amendments suggested by the SC are mostly of technical nature and do not undermine the purpose […]
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5 May 2016
Canada Orders Fees Cut, Data Made More Open
The Canadian government has ordered several immediate access to information reforms while it holds a public consultation on a broader package. The Interim Directive on the Administration of the Access to Information Act “delivers on key commitments to make government more open and transparent,” according to the announcement. The Directive “sends a strong message across […]
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5 May 2016
Ghana President Avoids Mention of RTI Legislation
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama in a World Press Freedom Day speech noted that public access to information is now a international development goal, but he did not commit to passing the slow-moving right to information bill in Ghana. Meanwhile, transparency supporters urged action on the long-pending bill. One legislator, however, has predicted that the […]
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5 May 2016
Zambian Minister Says Cabinet to Consider ATI Bill
A Zambian Cabinet committee “will soon deliberate on the content of the Access to Information (ATI) Bill, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili has said,” according to a May 3 Daily Mail report, and advocates for the bill are pushing for enactment. “The process towards the enactment of the Access to Information Bill […]
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5 May 2016
FOI Notes: Research, Press Freedom Day, Regional and Country News, More
International: A commissioned by the Transparency and Accountability Initiative and curated by Thomas Carothers of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – “short, forward-looking think pieces by leading scholars and activists on the future of the transparency and accountability movement.” International: At a World Press Freedom Day conference more than 1,000 media practitioners and stakeholders, […]
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4 May 2016
Hallelujah: Wisdom Prevails in Australia
By Peter Timmins The author publishes the Open and Shut blog on FOI in Australia, where this article was posted May 3. From the Attorney General tonight: The Government has decided not to proceed with the new arrangements for privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI) regulation, including the proposed changes to the Office of the […]
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4 May 2016
Danish Pro-Access Majority Refrains From Using Power
By Staffan Dahllöf The author is a freelance journalist. There is now a majority in the Danish parliament for amending a much-criticised law on access to public information adopted in 2013. Yet this majority is not likely to take use of its possible power, due to different political strategies. Three of the critical parties – the […]
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4 May 2016
OGP Declares Azerbaijan Membership ‘Inactive’
The Open Government Partnership Steering Committee has voted 16-3 (with three abstentions) to make Azerbaijan an “inactive” member, agreeing with complaints that the government has created an environment inhospitable to civil society activity. An OGP press release said the Steering Committee May 4 “resolved that Azerbaijan will be regretfully designated as inactive in OGP, due to unresolved […]
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3 May 2016
South Africa Opposes OGP Sanction of Azerbaijan
The South African government has laid out its case for why the Open Government Partnership should not declare Azerbaijan an “inactive” member because of its adverse treatment of civil society organizations. South Africa also rebuked OGP colleagues for their handling of the matter. The 37-page document marked “Confidential” was not included among the documents released in advance […]
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3 May 2016
Turkey Again Promises to Meet OGP Commitments
After several years of inactivity as a member of the Open Government Partnership, the Turkish government pledged a revitalized membership, again. The promise came in a one-page April 27 letter, and was apparently sufficient for the OGP Steering Committee on May 4 to decide not to label Turkey as an “inactive” member. The last-minute request […]
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28 April 2016
Kenyan Assembly Approves Access to Information Bill
Kenya’s National Assembly on April 28 approved an Access to Information Bill on third reading, according to media accounts such as one by Alphonce Shiundu in Standard Media and one by James Mbaka in The Star. There is ongoing deliberation by a legal committee on whether it should be forwarded to the Senate for consideration or […]
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28 April 2016
South Africa Resists Proposal to Designate Azerbaijan as Inactive OGP Member
South Africa, the lead co-chair of the Open Government Partnership, is advocating continued diplomatic engagement with Azerbaijan instead of making Azerbaijan an “inactive” OGP member for violating OGP principles, as recommended by an OGP subcommittee, according to OGP officials and informed sources. The OGP Steering Committee is nevertheless expected to declare Azerbaijan inactive on May […]
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28 April 2016
Namibian Video Downplays Access Issues, Activists Say
A new video in Namibia effectively promotes the virtues of access to government information, but seriously downplays the practical difficulties of actually getting information, according to activists consulted by FreedomInfo.org. The video paints “a somewhat rosy picture,” observed one Namibian activist, “fine rhetoric masking a rather parlous situation.” The government has yet to propose an […]
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28 April 2016
FOI Notes: Press Freedom Day/FOI, Open Data Strategy, Windhoek Anniversary, More
UNESCO: “2016 World Press Freedom Day celebrations highlight link between freedom of information and sustainable development,” according to a press release about the ceremonies and programs to be held in Finland May 2-4. Several FOI related panels are to be held, according to the program. “All the main sessions” will be streamed, a UNESCO official […]
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26 April 2016
OGP Committee Poised to Discuss Turkey, Azerbaijan
The Open Government Partnership Steering Committee is poised to consider whether two members, Turkey and Azerbaijan, should be downgraded to “inactive” membership. The Steering Committee also has a broad agenda of policy matters to consider at the meeting May 3-4 in Cape Town, South Africa, (dress code “business formal”), and will be choosing future leaders. […]
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22 April 2016
OGP Selects Six Persons to Join Steering Committee
Six new civil society members have been selected to join the Open Government Partnership Steering Committee, including one incumbent member. The 6 selected candidates are: Aidan Eyakuze (Twaweza – Tanzania) – will start in May Helen Darbishire (Access Info Europe – based in Spain) – will start in September Maria Baron (Directorio Legislativo –Argentina) – […]
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21 April 2016
Open Data Barometer Reads Low and Steady, Study Says
Only one-tenth of national data is really open and free, according to the third annual Open Data Barometer by the World Wide Web Foundation. The Barometer looks at 15 general categories of data, such as health, environment and crime (not at specific datasets), in 92 countries. The evaluative information is gathered through surveys of governments […]
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21 April 2016
Israeli Court Denies Access to Records Concerning Rwanda
The Supreme Court has ruled that records documenting Israel’s arms dealings with Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi will remain undisclosed. The ruling, reported by Juddah Ari Gross for the Times of Israel, says there were pressing security and foreign relations concerns that prevent releasing the documents, citing Section 9 of Israel’s FOI law. […]
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21 April 2016
DRC Assembly Includes Access Bill on Agenda
A bill on access to information has been included on the agenda for the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to activists who campaigned for its inclusion. An access bill law passed the Senate in October 2015 by the Senate and was sent to the National Assembly Nov. 2, 2015. (See […]
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21 April 2016
UN Rapporteur Scores Japan on Designated Secrets Act
United Nations Special Rapporteur David Kaye has expressed strong concerns that Japan’s Specially Designated Secrets Act (SDS) restricts the public’s right to information. He revealed his preliminary observations April 19 in Japan at the conclusion of a weeklong fact-finding trip. (Video of press conference and article in Jurist). Kaye said the act “goes further than necessary […]