Access to Information Laws in 14 Countries
Transparency and Silence is a recently released study by the Open Society Institute that looked at access to government information in 14 countries.
The study concludes "that transitional democracies outperformed established ones in providing information about government activities. Bulgaria, Romania, Armenia, Mexico, and Peru did better in answering citizens’ requests for information than France and Spain."
On the negative side, the study found widespread ethnic discrimination against requestors in some countries, notably members of the Roma minority in Eastern Europe. Even when their request was identical to that made by other requestors, they were provided with less information.
On the positive side, the report identifies some top performers when it comes to government transparency: Armenia’s Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Work and Social Issues, and Ministry of Environment; Romania’s Ministry of Justice, and the Bucharest Tribunal; Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation, and Ministry of Environment and Water; and the municipalities of Miraflores and San Isidro, in Peru.
As well, the study notes the trend towards greater access. 65 countries now have laws on the subject.
The study concludes "that transitional democracies outperformed established ones in providing information about government activities. Bulgaria, Romania, Armenia, Mexico, and Peru did better in answering citizens’ requests for information than France and Spain."
On the negative side, the study found widespread ethnic discrimination against requestors in some countries, notably members of the Roma minority in Eastern Europe. Even when their request was identical to that made by other requestors, they were provided with less information.
On the positive side, the report identifies some top performers when it comes to government transparency: Armenia’s Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Work and Social Issues, and Ministry of Environment; Romania’s Ministry of Justice, and the Bucharest Tribunal; Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation, and Ministry of Environment and Water; and the municipalities of Miraflores and San Isidro, in Peru.
As well, the study notes the trend towards greater access. 65 countries now have laws on the subject.
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