Posts Tagged ‘rti legislation’
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22 September 2011
Polish Legislation Called Too Broad; Signing Opposed
Polish transparency activists are asking the country’s president not to sign recently passed amendments to the freedom of information law. Parliament Sept. 16 approved a variety of changes, including an amendment added by the upper chamber which critics consider too broad. The specific objectionable provision (translated by a Polish FOI activist) states: 1a. The right […]
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19 September 2011
Guyana Assembly Passes Access to Information Bill
The Guyana National Assembly Sept. 15 passed an access to information bill drafted in meetings boycotted by the opposition and being criticized by transparency activists. President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to sign the bill in the coming months, according to an Associated Press report. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told the Assembly that 20 of the […]
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16 September 2011
Bahamas Minister Promises to Bring Up FOI Bill
Bahamian Health Minister Hubert Minnishas said the government will bring a freedom of information bill to Parliament before it ends its term in office, according to a Sept. 15 report by Cara Brennen-Bethel in The Tribune. Minnis said in a radio interview that he is “a full complete proponent of the Freedom of Information Act.” […]
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16 September 2011
New Law on Freedom of Information in Hungary
By Tivadar Hüttl Director of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Program, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union The Hungarian Parliament in June adopted new law on data protection and freedom of information (Act CXII. on Informational Self-determination and Freedom of Information). The act will entry in force from 1st of January 2012, and will replace the […]
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7 September 2011
Passage of RTI Law in Ghana This Year Called Less Likely
Passage of a right to information law in Ghana is unlikely this year, according to assessments in several recent, in-depth articles. In the aftermath of summer hearings around the country, Parliament could be in a position to act on the bill, but no specific plans have been outlined. (See previous FreedomInfo.org reports.) A Sept. 6 […]
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5 September 2011
Sierra Leone President Promises September Passage
Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has told a leading freedom of information campaigner that a FOI bill will be passed in September. The president made his comment Sept. 3 to Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai during a conversation at the launch for Koroma’s biography. Koroma said that he “has given the go ahead for the Freedom […]
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2 September 2011
India Law Needs to Protect RTI Activists, Group Says
The Asian Centre for Human Rights has issued a report, “RTI activists: sitting ducks of India,” stated that from January 2010 to August 2011, at least 12 right to information activists including have been murdered and recommending an amendment to the RTI Act. “RTI activists are the most vulnerable human rights defenders (HRDs) of India. […]
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2 September 2011
SA Committee Adopts Protection of Information Bill
A committee of the South African Parliament has passed a Protection of Information Bill. While somewhat toned down from the original proposal offered a year ago, the final version is still considered objectionable by critics and possibly unconstitutional. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) The bill now goes to the whole Parliament, where vote before Sept. 15 is expected. […]
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31 August 2011
Indian Cabinet Rejects Controversial Sports Bill
The Indian Cabinet Aug. 30 rejected a proposal to regulate national sports federations that included a provision to bring them under the right to information law. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.) The disapproval was overwhelming according to news reports, but the sports minister later vowed to try again. The sports minister said any revised draft legislation […]
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29 August 2011
South Africa Coalition Critical of POIB as Debate Nears End
Work on the Protection of Information Bill by the South African parliamentary committee is nearing conclusion, with some compromises being made, but the Right2Know Coalition says the bill “still fails the Freedom Test.” Deliberations are expected to continue this week, beginning with debate on whether to allow a public interest defense, a major coalition demand. […]
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25 August 2011
Brazilian Senator Takes Stand Undercutting FOI Bill
Former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello, now a powerful senator, has proposed revisions to the proposed freedom of information bill that proponents quickly condemned. His proposals are raising concerns about the bill’s future notwithstanding the support for it by new president Dilma Rousseff. (See previous FreedomInfo.org reports.) International freedom of expression group Article 19 […]
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22 August 2011
Ghana RTI Coalition Summarizes Consultations
The Right to Information Coalition-Ghana has listed the main criticisms of pending RTI legislation following a series of parliamentary consultations. The consultations were marred by a lack of adequate notice, according to the Coalition statement Aug 19. The sessions were held in the Volta, Eastern, Northern, Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra regions and according to […]
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19 August 2011
Debate Over Definition Emerges in South Africa
A new controversy emerged this week in deliberations over the Protection of Information Bill in South Africa as proponents suggested that the key term “national security” in the bill doesn’t need to be defined. “Which means we’d go from an outrageously broad definition (thus open to abuse) to no definition at all (thus inviting abuse […]
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17 August 2011
Aguino Still Withholding Support for FOI Legislation
Philippines President Benigno Aquino has “specific questions and concerns” about freedom of information legislation, according to a spokesman in comments after the Aquino administration bypassed another opportunity to make the bill a priority. The inaction brought a round of condemnations from the bill’s frustrated supporters. The legislation was not placed on a list of priority […]
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16 August 2011
Kazakhstan Looking to 2012 for Consideration of FOI Bill
Freedom of information legislation in Kazakhstan will not be considered until 2012, according to a key member of Parliament, Zh. Asanov. Asanov, who has been a leader in the drafting of a proposed law, said in July that further drafting work is necessary. The draft law itself still needs elaboration, he said, and it is […]
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12 August 2011
Ghana RTI Bill Criticized as Consultations Continue
The Right to Information Coalition in Ghana and others have criticized a draft RTI bill during ongoing regional consultations, and government officials have indicated some receptivity to alterations. During an Aug. 5 session in Takorado, Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the government is determined to pass the bill and that there is a […]
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5 August 2011
Words From Mali Minister Encourage FOI Activists
Mali’s minister of communication has committed to support an action plan to promote the right to information in the country, according to a press release from the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) and the Mali Association of Human Rights (AMDH). The groups welcomed the development, which was made at a July 29 workshop they […]
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1 August 2011
Ghana Lawmakers Begin Consultations on RTI Bill
Members of the Ghana parliament have begun regional consultations on a proposed right to information bill, with proponents of the bill complaining that the sessions were poorly publicized, and criticizing the bill. The Coalition on the Right to Information-Ghana commended the Joint Committee on Legal, Constitutional, and Parliamentary Affairs and Communication for commencing the consultations, […]
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29 July 2011
Colombia: ATI Movement Rolls Out Draft FOI Bill
By Michael Evans Director, Colombia Documentation Project, National Security Archive For more than two years, a coalition of transparency advocates in Colombia has been developing draft language for what might someday become the country’s first right to information law. The full text of the proposed access law, along with a detailed statement of purpose from […]
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29 July 2011
South African Panel Renews Deliberations on Secrecy Bill
Consideration of the controversial Protection of Information Bill (POIB) by a committee of the South African Parliament resumed this week with debate focused on a new definition of national security. The multi-day deliberations this week included an indication that the ruling African National Congress party will “at least consider proposals for extending protection to those […]