Posts Tagged ‘rti legislation’
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22 September 2010
Paraguayan NGOs Launch Campaign to Pass FOI Law
Leaders of nongovernment organizations in Paraguay have begun talking with congressional leaders about passing a freedom of information law. The groups have developed a draft law (in Spanish). “We are trying to get a broad consensus on the importance of having a legislative debate on a FOI law,” according to Ezequiel Santagada, an attorney […]
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17 September 2010
Revised POI Bill Still Objectionable, Groups Say
South Africa’s State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele Sept. 17 proposed a few changes to the controversial Protection of Information bill, but critics called the concessions inadequate. In particular, Cwele said that “broad and vague concepts must be dropped from the body of the bill,” according to a summary of his statement. “In this regard, the […]
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17 September 2010
FOI Notes: Chinese Cities; FOI for the Media?, Grants
FOI Request for Rupert Murdoch? British Member of Parliament Dennis MacShane on Sept. 7 suggested that the UK FOIA should be extended to cover not just public authorities but also private media organizations and bodies which receive state funding, according to the International Forum for Responsible Media blog. China: Economics and Transparency Three political science professors […]
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16 September 2010
FOI Bill in Ghana Reaches Parliamentary Committee
Freedom of information legislation for Ghana has been referred to a parliamentary committee, according to supporters and media reports. The legislation was supported in remarks Sept. 16 by Deputy Minister for Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. He was quoted as saying that the government is commited to doing everything possible to ensure the passage of the […]
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16 September 2010
New Kenyan Constitution Guarantees Access Right
The new Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right of access to information, but the question is now turning to implementation. After winning 67 percent approval in a referendum, the Constitution went into effect Aug. 28, 2010. The relevant section of the new Kenyan Constitution states: Access to information 35. (1) Every citizen has the right of […]
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10 September 2010
Argentine Congress Advancing FOI Law
Both houses of Argentina’s Congress are moving ahead with access to public information bills, and advocates are feeling optimistic. The Argentine Senate Sept. 9 approved “in general” an access to public information bill, and made plans for more detailed debate on its provisions on Sept. 30. In the House, the committees on Constitutional Affairs, Justice […]
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9 September 2010
Promises of FOI Bill in Antigua Questioned
President Bharrat Jagdeo of Antigua is promising action on a freedom of information bill, but observers are very skeptical. The president recently indicated he would bring up both a FOI bill and a broadcast bill in October when the National Assembly resumes. But in a statement, the opposition party People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), said, […]
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9 September 2010
Hearings on FOI Bill in Philippines Expected
Legislative hearings may begin soon on a freedom of information law for the Philippines after efforts to pass it were thwarted in June. According to a report by Christian V. Esguerra in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, “The ill-fated Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill may have found a new lease on life amid criticism of the manner […]
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3 September 2010
Liberian Senate Passes FOI Bill, President to Sign
The Liberian Senate Sept. 2 unanimously passed a freedom of information bill that the country’s president is expected to sign. Passage of the FOI law puts Liberia on the brink of history making in West Africa, according to Malcolm Joseph, the chairman of the Liberia Freedom of Expression Coalition. Liberia will become the first West […]
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3 September 2010
Nigerian Legislator Blames Media for Holding Up FOI Bill
A key Nigerian legislator has indicated that passage of a Freedom of Information bill is conditional on the inclusion of provisions concerning media responsibility. His position drew a rebuttal from groups supporting the long-stalled FOI bill. Iyiola Omisore, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, “has blamed journalists for the delay of the passage of […]
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3 September 2010
Amendments to POI Possible, South African Official Says
A spokesman for the South African government said Sept. 2 that the controversial Protection of Information bill will be amended. The comment following a Cabinet meeting came as groups launched a campaign against the proposed law. (See related FreedomInfo.org report.) According to a media account, spokesperson Themba Maseko said the government welcomed the representations received […]
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31 August 2010
Campaign Kicks Off Against South African FOI Proposal
Opponents of proposed legislation to scale back the South African Freedom of Information law Aug. 31 issued a civil society statement titled “Let the Truth Be Told! Stop the Secrecy Bill.” More than 180 organizations and 400 prominent individuals such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nadine Gordimer signed the statement, which says, “This Bill fundamentally […]
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27 August 2010
FOIA Proposal Not Acted on by Spanish Ministers
An expected meeting of the Spanish Council of Ministers Aug. 20 on a yet-undisclosed proposal for a freedom of information law was not held, prompting calls for more transparency. Access Info wrote a letter to the Spanish government Aug. 25 asking for information about the draft “Law on Transparency and Citizen Access to Public Information.” […]
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24 August 2010
Four Hearings on Draft FOIA Law Held in Kazakhstan
Four public hearings were held in Kazakhstan during August as part of an effort to develop a Freedom of Information law. A conference to discuss the draft law is planned for Sept. 24 in Astana after the next draft is made public. The effort has support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the […]
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20 August 2010
FOIA Prospects in Nigeria Called Grim
“The prospects for a Freedom of Information Act under the present government in Nigeria look grim, unless we can take decisive action to rescue the situation,” Media Rights Agenda Executive Director Edetaen Ojo told a conference in Lagos, according to a newspaper report. The distraction of the coming elections is a problem, he […]
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19 August 2010
Spain Drafting New Transparency Law
The Spanish government is commencing work on a “Transparency and Access to Information Law,” an initiative signaled by a leak to the media. The draft, a copy if which is still unavailable, was quickly criticized as inadequate. The public learned of the proposal Aug. 16, when the Spanish Daily El País reported a few details and said that […]
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13 August 2010
Campaign Grows Against SA Information Bill
Critics of a proposed South African law on access to information are ramping up their campaign as parliamentary consideration is slightly delayed. More than 100 national and international groups have signed on to a letter being circulated in protest of the bill proposed by the ruling African National Congress. Progress on the initiative, and the […]
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6 August 2010
Afghan Media, Civil Society Urge Introduction of FOI Bill
Media and civil society organizations in Afghanistan are pushing for passage of a freedom of information law. The groups issued a statement July 18 arguing for such a bill and proposing what should be in it. They asked for legislation that would: Ensure the right to information that is either held by or under the […]
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4 August 2010
Bangladeshi Commissioner Supports Wider Coverage
Bangladesh’s Chief Information Commissioner, Muhammad Zamir, has called for extending the 2009 Right to Know Act to cover all corporations. “Most of the corporate companies and giant financial institutions in the country remain out of the jurisdiction of the act. But people have the right to know about their activities and financial dealings. So the […]
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29 July 2010
Bermuda Adopts FOI Law
Bermuda has approved a Freedom of Information law, according to news reports. Premier Ewart Brown said an Information Commissioner would be appointed by the end of December and that the new law will be implemented within two to three years. Passage in Parliament July 23 culminated a multi-year effort that began in earnest around 2004. “Today […]