Unit 6 Questions

Please answer each of the following questions.  If you are taking this course in a group you may then meet to discuss your answers.

1. How does the concept of Access to Information differ to what you thought it was prior to undertaking this unit?
   
   
2. What is the right to information and how does it differ to access to information?
   
   
3. If access to information legislation has been passed or is pending in your country, examine your legislation and identify how the legislation addresses the thematic areas noted in the commentary and in the reading?
   
   
4. If access to information legislation has not been passed or is not pending in your country, outline how the thematic areas could be addressed in potential legislation for your country – for instance what exceptions to disclosure would be acceptable in your country and why?

Select Bibliography

Banisar, D. Freedom of Information and Access to Government Record Laws Around the World.  Freedominfo.org Global Survey, 2004 

Blanton, T. “The Word’s Right to Know.” Foreign Policy, July/ August No.131, 2002: pp.50-58

Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles 1999.  Agreed by the 11th Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, Trinidad and Tobago 1999

The Johannesburg Principles 1995

Internet Resources

Mendel, T.  The Public’s Right to Know: Principles on Freedom on Information Legislation. Article 19; London, 1999 (available at
http://www.article19.org/docimages/512.htm)   

Recommendations for Transparent Governance 2004.  Conclusions of CPA-WBI Study Group on Access to Information, held in partnership with the Parliament of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, 5-9 July 2004 (available at www.cpahq.org)