Posts Tagged ‘implementation’
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2 May 2011
Indonesian Commissioner Cites Limited Authority
The Indonesian Central Information Commission (KIP) received 224 requests from citizens and corporations to settlement of information disputes between July 2010 and March 2011, according to an article in the Jakarta Post. The commission provided information in 22 disputes through mediation. “Seven cases went through adjudication, but in only three of them were documents eventually […]
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22 April 2011
Cayman Commissioner Makes Suggestions for FOI Law
The Cayman Island information commissioner has made recommendations to revise the 2007 freedom of information law for a Legislative Assembly subcommittee tasked with conducting a review. The most recent submission by commissioner Jennifer Dilbert concerns fees and requests submitted using a pseudonym, according to press release from her office. Last September, she made recommendations on […]
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15 April 2011
Multifaceted Strategy Urged to Build Demand for Information
Identifying government information that citizens can use is key to building public support for access to information, according to four leading activists from Africa who spoke April 14 at an Open Society Foundations forum in Washington. Providing an example, Agnes Edo’o, executive director of the Citizens Governance Initiatives in Cameroon, described a recent effort to […]
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15 April 2011
Bangladesh RTI ACT, 2009: Present Status and Scope
By Sanjida Sobhan Coordinator, Manusher Jonno Foundation Perhaps the Right to Information Act, 2009 is one of the much talked about issues in Bangladesh after Nari o Sishu Nirjatan Domon Ain 2003 (songshodito) [Act for Suppression of Violence against Women and Children]. Demand for such Act came from every corner of the society like human […]
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7 April 2011
Mexican Network Sets Strategy, Discusses Successes
By Gabriela Ruiz Visiting researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute The México Infórmate FOI advocates network celebrated its second annual meeting in Cancún March 17-18, trading success stories and planning strategy. The Mexico Infórmate network integrates members of the media, civil society, and local government ministries. […]
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7 April 2011
Mexico Informate 2010 Yearbook, Advocacy in Action
By Gabriela Ruiz Visiting researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute On March 16, the Mexico Infórmate network unveiled its 2010 Yearbook, which showcases the activities celebrated during the second annual México Infórmate week (Mexico Get Informed) on Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2010. During the week, freedom […]
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4 April 2011
New Advisory Body Formed on South Asia RTI Issues
A new 16-person body, the South Asia Advisers on the Right to Information, was formed during a two-day long convention in Kathmundu, Nepal, from March 27- 29. Made up of chief information officers, RTI activists and others, the group will discuss “transparency law, norms for information commissions, and capacity building among government officials, media and […]
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25 March 2011
Banisar Study Explores Interplay of RTI, Privacy laws
There is no simple solution to balancing the sometimes competing rights of access to information and protection of privacy, “but most issues can be mitigated through the enactment of clear definitions in legislation, guidelines, techniques, and oversight systems,” according to a report by David Banisar, Senior Legal Counsel for Article 19, the London-based freedom of […]
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23 March 2011
Israeli Cabinet Approves Creation of New FOI Unit
The Israeli Cabinet March 6 approved the creation of a central freedom of information unit, to be housed within the Ministry of Justice. The unit is authorized to “to guide government ministries in regard to wrong-doing revealed in their handling of FOI requests.” In addition, the new office will create a website to provide information, […]
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16 March 2011
U.S. Announces Variety of New Transparency Plans
Although a scheduled meeting of freedom of information activists with President Obama on U.S. Freedom of Information Day was postponed, administration officials took advantage of “Sunshine Week” to make a variety of pro-transparency announcements. FOI leaders had planned to laud Obama publicly for his commitment to transparency while privately pressing him to do more. However, […]
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14 March 2011
Indian RTI Conference Adopts 12-Point Shillong Declaration
Indian right to know activists March 13 passed a 12-point resolution urging that the law’s jurisdiction be expanded to cover Public-Private Partnership (PPP) entities, political parties, trade unions, and nongovernmental organizations. The “Shillong Declaration” was approved at the conclusion of a three day national RTI conference in Shillong, attended by about 1,000 persons. The declarations […]
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14 March 2011
Obama Transparency Pledges Unfulfilled, NSA Report Says
The Obama administration is only about halfway toward its promise of improving Freedom of Information responsiveness among federal agencies, according to the new Knight Open Government Survey by the National Security Archive, released March 14 for Sunshine Week at www.nsarchive.org. On his first day in office, January 21, 2009, President Obama issued a presidential memorandum instructing federal […]
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11 March 2011
Canadian Info Commissioner Issues Report Card
There were “limited gains” in the transparency of Canada’s federal institutions, according to a “report card” issued March 10 by the Information Commissioner of Canada, Suzanne Legault. The headlines about the report emphasized the poor ratings given the Canada Post Corporation and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation “for dragging their feet on answering information requests from […]
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11 March 2011
Scottish Commissioner Issues Annual Report
Scottish public authorities are handling more freedom of information requests and are more likely to disclose information, according to research accompanying publication by the Scottish Information Commissioner of the 2010 Annual Report. According to a statement: A survey of FOI officers across Scotland found that over two thirds reported a rise in FOI requests over […]
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7 March 2011
U.S. Court Rejects Navy Use of Personnel Exemption
The United States Supreme Court March 7 said the government could not stretch the personnel exemption to withhold Navy data and maps predicting the extent of potential damage from the explosion of an ammunition dump. The justices voted 8-1 to overturn an appeals court ruling that had supported the Navy’s decision not to release to the information under […]
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4 March 2011
Indian Government Moves Slightly on FOI Word Limit
The Indian government has backed down somewhat from its proposal to limit the length of freedom of information requests to 250 words. Five hundred words would be permitted, according to a Times of India report, which credited the movement to the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC). The council has previously criticized the proposed new […]
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4 March 2011
Indian CIC, Planning Agency Debate RTI Coverage
The Indian Central Information Commission (CIC) has proposed bringing more transparency to the private corporations participating in the government’s public private partnership (PPP) programs, but the request appears to be meeting with resistance, or not. The story began when the CIC asked the Planning Commission to insert an right to information clause into agreements with the private partners. However, […]
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4 March 2011
Reports Faults Georgia on FOI Responses, Websites
The Georgian freedom of information law needs reform to prevent public officials from hiding information, according to one of two new reports by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI). In another report, the institute strongly criticizes the websites of public institutions. The conclusions in Electronic Transparency in Georgia were based on audits […]
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1 March 2011
U.S. Top Court Denies AT&T Use of Personal Exemption
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 March 1that corporations do not have a right of personal privacy under freedom of information laws. “We trust that AT&T will not take it personally,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote at the conclusion of his opinion for the court. AT&T sought to use the “personal privacy” exemption […]
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28 February 2011
World Bank Report Critical of Nepal RTI Implementation
The implementation of the right to information law in Nepal “has so far been weak,” according to a new report from the World Bank. Public bodies “have done little to meet their extensive obligations under the law,” the 37-page report says, continuing, “… many have not even appointed dedicated information officers and most of the […]