Access to Information

Access to Information:

Your right to ask for information directly from all public bodies – and to receive it.

More from Access to Information

Criminalising Journalism - the MEAA report into the state of press freedom in Australia in 2018

There’s almost universal acceptance of the maxim “Journalism is not a crime”. One exception is Australia’s parliament – it begs to differ.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance 30 April 2018
Faking news: Fraudulent news and the fight for truth

The report examines the rise of fraudulent news, defined here as demonstrably false information that is being presented as a factual news report with the intention to deceive the public, and the related erosion of public faith in traditional journalism. The report identifies proposed solutions at the intersection of technology, journalism, and civil society to empower news consumers with better skills and tools to help them process the torrents of information they see online.

PEN American Center 12 October 2017
Open Development: Access to Information and the Sustainable Development Goals

The Report examines the progress countries have made since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals on implementing the commitment to make access to information available to all people in their countries.

ARTICLE 19 19 July 2017

Libertades de resistencia. Libertad de expresión y derecho a la información en México 2016

Cuando hablamos de libertades en este in- forme no nos referimos solamente a valo- res abstractos que por lo general se nos ha dicho que debemos defender. Más bien, lo que narramos son historias de trabajo que se desenvuelven en el día a día y que están resistiendo a esas condiciones permanentes de marginación, opacidad y agresión.

ARTICLE 19 6 March 2017

Turkey: State of emergency, state of arbitrary

After already cracking down on freedom of information in recent years, President Erdoğan has taken advantage of the abortive coup d’état and the state of emergency in effect since 20 July to silence many more of his media critics, not only Gülen movement media and journalists but also, to a lesser extent, Kurdish, secularist and left-wing media.

Reporters Without Borders 19 September 2016

Facing reality after the Euromaidan: The situation of journalists and media in Ukraine

“After the initial optimism during the Euromaidan movement, many journalists have become disillusioned. They are faced with the triple challenge of the war in the Eastern part of the country, the economic crisis and the digitalization of mass media.”

Reporters Without Borders 30 June 2016

Balancing Act: Press freedom at risk as EU struggles to match action with values

The EU has made press freedom imperative in negotiating with candidate countries, but has been accused of failing to take strong action when member states renege on their press freedom commitments.

Committee to Protect Journalists 29 September 2015

Challenges for independent media in Cambodia in 2014

In 2014 Cambodian journalists increasingly found themselves in the news, as reporters faced injury and even death for covering the news. 2014 proved the deadliest year for Cambodian journalists since the political turmoil of 1997, with two Cambodian journalists confirmed murdered in relation to their work and a third, foreign journalist found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Cambodian Centre for Independent Media 9 May 2015

OGP in Africa: Opportunities for open contracting and open data

This report presents a review of the efficacy and capabilities of the Open Government Partnership or OGP to promote Open Contracting through the National Action Plans of their African member–states.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre 20 April 2015

The State of Press Freedom in Spain: 2015

While media freedom in Spain remains robust and certainly comparable to its European neighbours, at such a critical moment for the Spanish public there is a need to ensure maximum access to the free flow of information.

International Press Institute 31 March 2015

A day in Dala with PEN Myanmar

In Dala, PEN Myanmar experienced a rare opportunity to work with a group of 200 or so high school children from the local state secondary school, which stands adjacent to the monastery compound.

PEN International 28 March 2015

Toolkit: Libraries and the UN post-2015 development agenda

As the United Nations reflects on the future of global development and the post-2015 agenda, access to information must be recognised as critical to supporting governments to achieve development goals, and enabling citizens to make informed decisions to improve their own lives. IFLA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, believes that libraries help guarantee that access.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions 9 October 2014

Free expression, media freedom and 2015 elections in Myanmar

ARTICLE 19 1 October 2014

State of right to information in Africa: Report 2014

The goal of this report is to provide African governments, civil society, researchers and other stakeholders with a tool that will guide and support the development and advancement of the right to information in Africa.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre 30 September 2014

Report on free expression - submitted to UN Human Rights Council

This report was submitted by Globe International for the second cycle of Mongolia's UPR (Universal Periodic Review)

Globe International Center 16 September 2014

Freedom of information and legislative transparency in Cambodia

CCHR has released a Briefing Note on freedom of information and legislative transparency in Cambodia, where laws are almost always drafted in secrecy, without the inclusion of relevant stakeholders.

Cambodian Center for Human Rights 5 August 2014

Secrecy and surveillance: The report into the state of press freedom in Australia in 2014

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance 3 May 2014

"No Answers, No Apology": Police Abuses and Accountability in Malaysia

Human Rights Watch 2 April 2014

A living, breathing revolution: How libraries can use 'living archives' to support, engage, and document social movements

By their very nature, libraries are poised to become forces for social change and using this exhibit as an example, libraries themselves can show the life of their communities by putting their responses on display to support their involvement in social movements, engage others, and document for the future

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions 7 March 2014

VAT/GST/Sales Tax Rate: Global Survey on Books & E-Books - Europe, Latin America and Canada

For the fourth consecutive year, the IPA and PricewaterhouseCoopers have carried out a global survey on the application of VAT on printed books and e-books. It reveals that much progress remains for countries to adopt a non-discriminatory, consistent tax regime for printed and e-books.

International Publishers Association 6 February 2014

Global Right to Information Update: An Analysis by Region

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) is pleased to join the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) in launching a major global analysis of the development of the right to information (RTI) movement, broken down by region.

Africa Freedom of Information Centre 19 July 2013

The Dark Side of Green Growth - Human Rights Impacts of Weak Governance in Indonesia's Forestry Sector

The government has enacted unnecessary restrictions on access to information about forest concessions and land claims. Authorities have harassed and intimidated local activists who have been bringing attention to forest sector abuses, and a number of environmentalists and activists have been arrested or prosecuted in recent months over plantation disputes.

Human Rights Watch 16 July 2013

Burma: Freedom of expression in transition

Burma is at a crossroads. The period of transition since 2010 has opened up the space for freedom of expression to an extent unpredicted by even the most optimistic in the country. Yet this space is highly contingent on a number of volatile factors.

Index on Censorship 15 July 2013

Dark Clouds on the Horizon - Hong Kong's freedom of expression faces new threats

Hong Kong Journalists Association 7 July 2013

Libya : Protecting freedom of expression and right to access information in new constitution

ARTICLE 19 1 July 2013

Freedom of Information Demand and Supply Compliance Monitoring: A Pilot Study of Post Enactment Implementation Regime of the Liberian Freedom of Information Act 2010

This publication is a component of the National Endowment for Democracy, (NED) funded project that has unearthed a dismal level of denial to disclose information in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government in Liberia.

Center for Media Studies & Peace Building 27 June 2013