Who has the right to know? Should the internet be regulated? Can official secrets be justified in the name of national security? How does the UK’s freedom of information policy measure up? These are just a few of the issues to be discussed at ‘The Right to Know’, an international seminar organised by the British […]
Who has the right to know?
Should the internet be regulated? Can official secrets be justified in the name of national security? How does the UK’s freedom of information policy measure up? These are just a few of the issues to be discussed at ‘The Right to Know’, an international seminar organised by the British Council and ARTICLE 19 from 6-11 February in Oxford.
Speakers range from MPs and lawyers to pressure group activists and journalists, including:
a.. Tony Geraghty, the first British journalist to face criminal charges (now dropped) under the Official Secrets Act for 20 years. He fell foul of government secrecy on Northern Ireland in connection with “unauthorised” material published in his book, The Irish War, last year. His source still faces charges. He will speak on the protection of sources and publishing in the public interest.
a.. Guardian journalists David Hencke and David Leigh, on the use of insult, defamation and national security laws to inhibit investigative journalism.
a.. Toby Mendel, Head of Law Programme, ARTICLE 19, on principles regarding Freedom of Information legislation, including access to information in situations of armed conflict.
The search for truth in the international arena is of increasing political importance. Speakers from Amnesty International and ARTICLE 19 will discuss International War Crimes Tribunals in Bosnia and Rwanda and the Pinochet case. Case studies on South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka will be presented and discussed.
For further information contact: Ruth Brander, British Council press office tel: 020 7389 4878; or Ilana Cravitz/Katherine Huxtable, ARTICLE 19 tel: 020 7713 1355.
Notes to Editors:
a.. Other speakers at the seminar include:
Professor Kevin Boyle (Director of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Essex), Richard Carver (University of Oxford), Mark Fisher (Labour MP for Stoke on Trent Central), Christopher Hall (Legal Adviser, Amnesty International), Fiona Harrison (Head of Europe Programme, ARTICLE 19), Dr Venkat Iyer (University of Ulster), Dr Jon Lunn (Africa Programme, ARTICLE 19), Professor James Michael (University College, London), Elizabeth Nissan (Human Rights Consultant), Peter Rodrick (Friends of the Earth) Lindsay Ross (Press Freedom Director, Commonwealth Press Union).
