Posts Tagged ‘rti legislation’
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14 February 2011
World Bank Supportive of Ghana FOI Bill
By Toby McIntosh Supporters of a freedom of information bill for Ghana, feeling tantalizingly close to seeing parliamentary action, are now waiting to see if parliamentary leaders will suggest a “reasonable” budget and timetable for country-wide consultations. The Word Bank has indicated its willingness to finance the consultations but rejected a proposal from parliamentarians to […]
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11 February 2011
Nigerian House Votes to Advance FOI Legislation
The Nigerian House Feb. 10 voted to speed up action on freedom of information legislation that has been pending for 11 years. In an unexpected move, the House sent the measure for “thorough scrutiny” by two of its committees — Information and National Orientation and Justice — withdrawing a 2007 order that had held the bill up. The […]
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11 February 2011
Three Nigerian States Advancing Openness Reforms
By Toby McIntosh Frustrated with lack of action on freedom of information legislation at the national level, three states in Nigeria are taking steps to bring more transparency to the state level. Three states are considering action – Ekiti, Lagos and Rivers, according to Nigerian activists and media accounts. The state efforts are occurring […]
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11 February 2011
New Group Formed to Press for FOI Legislation in Brazil
Brasil Aberto (Open Brazil) has been created to encourage passage of an access to public information law in Brazil. Legislation passed the lower house of Congress in April 2010, but has since languished in the Senate where it has been assigned for review to four committees. (See previous Freedominfo.org report.) The new coalition was formed […]
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7 February 2011
FOI Bill Not Prioritized by Aquino Administration
New Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has left the Freedom of Information bill off his short list of legislative goals, despite having indicated during the campaign that it would be a priority. At a briefing Feb. 7, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “certain issues” concerning the FOIA bill are under study, but did not elaborate, […]
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4 February 2011
Ghana RTI Advocates Press for Action on Legislation
Supporters of a right to information bill in Ghana returned to the streets in front of the parliament building this week to press for action and some were slightly injured in scuffles with police. Majority Leader of Parliament Cletus Avoka was not encouraging as he urged patience and told the picketers lobbyists Feb. 2 that […]
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31 January 2011
South African Panel Gets 60 More Days on POIB
The ad hoc parliamentary committee working on the Protection of Information Bill has been granted until March 31 to finish its work, officials said Jan. 29. The extension was called too limited by opponents of the bill. The African Christian Democratic Party’s (ACDP) Steve Swart said they need at least another 12 months. “Legislation is […]
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28 January 2011
Ghana Official Says Finances Impede RTI Progress
A top official in Ghana’s parliament is blaming financial constraints for lack of action on a right to information bill, according to media reports. The chairman of Parliament’s Communication Committee, Felix Twumasi-Appiah, is quoted in myjoyline.com as saying that parliament is too broke to sponsor public consultations that some activists had expected to begin earlier this month. […]
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28 January 2011
South African Committee to Seek Extension of Time
The South African parliamentary committee working on the controversial Protection of Information Bill will seek more time to work on the legislation, its chairman said this week. Chairman Cecil Burgess said he would ask for an extension of the Jan. 28 deadline. Debate continued in committee Jan. 26 with no amendments being made. The committee […]
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28 January 2011
Indian Government Retorts to Critics of RTI Rules Proposals
An Indian government department has replied negatively to criticisms of its proposals to amendment the Right to Know Act rules, including to place a word limit on request and to abate appeals on the death of an applicant. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) launched a consultation exercise in December 2010 on its suggested changes, and one […]
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28 January 2011
English Version Available of New Ukrainian Access Law
An unofficial English translation of the new Ukrainian law on access to public information has been circulated among groups following the law. The translation is of bill No. 2763, “On the Access to Public Information,” that was adopted by the Rada on Jan. 13. (See previous Freedominfo.org report.) Still in process is a translation of […]
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28 January 2011
Scotland Decides Against Extending Scope of FOIA
The Scottish government Jan. 26 said it had decided against making certain private entities that perform public functions subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Calling such the extension idea “premature,” the government cited opposition from the contractors and their representative bodies as a key factor behind their decision, but acknowledged “near universal support” from […]
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24 January 2011
Pakistani Official Says FOI Proposal Nearing Completion
A top Pakistani official said Jan. 22 that that a draft right to information bill would be finalized by mid-February, according to a press account. Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, said consultations with stakeholders are nearly concluded. […]
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24 January 2011
OAS Finalizes Model FOI Law
The Organization of American States has taken the last step in the approval process for a model freedom of information law. The OAS General Assembly approved a resolution on the text of the model law in June 2010 and requested a meeting at which the states could present final changes in December. Since no changes […]
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21 January 2011
South African Parliament Restarts Work on POIB
A South African Parliament committee in the week of Jan. 17 held three meetings to continue its work on the controversial Protection of Information Bill. The committee is expected to keep deliberating on the measure throughout January, and perhaps longer. Although no concrete steps were taken during the three days of discussion, there was considerable […]
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21 January 2011
Tanzanian Official Pledges Action on FOI Legislation
The Tanzanian government wants to pass a freedom of information law, according to a top official quoted in the media. “The government will do everything possible to make sure that the bill is enacted and implemented accordingly,” the Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi told media stakeholders in Dar es Salaam Jan. 19, […]
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19 January 2011
Groups Urge EU Parliament to Amend EC Access Proposal
The European Union Parliament should amend the European Commission’s proposed amendments to Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 regarding access to documents held by EU institutions, according to a letter signed by more than 100 civil society groups, circulated by Access Info Europe. “The proposal would restrict access most notably by creating a narrower definition of what constitutes […]
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17 January 2011
Nigerian House Member Pledges Action on FOI Bill
A key Nigerian legislator has promised to move forward with freedom of information legislation, according to media accounts. In related developments, Nigerian editors urged passage of a FOI law and a top government minister spoke out for FOI and media reform at a regional conference. The chairman of the House Committee on Information, Ahmed Aliu […]
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17 January 2011
South African Parliament to Resume Work on POIB
A committee of the South African parliament on Feb. 18 will continue its deliberations on the proposed Protection of Information Bill. Despite the deletion of some controversial provisions, the opposition led by The Right2Know Campaign is seeking further changes to the bill proposed by the government. One continuing concern is the breadth of the definition […]
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14 January 2011
Ukraine Parliament Adopts Access to Information Law
Ukraine’s parliament Jan. 13 easily adopted new two new laws on access to public information. The bills got 412 and 408 votes, well above the 226 votes necessary for approval. The new laws, expected to be signed by President Viktor Yanukovych, mandate that public officials voluntarily disclose information while also establishing a system for requesting information, […]