Human Rights

25 Feb 2026

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F Coup

Marta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00

Madrid, 25 February 2026 — Access Info Europe welcomes the decision by the Spanish Government to declassify documents relating to the attempted coup d’état of 23 February 1981, a move that acknowledges the public’s right to know about events that profoundly shaped Spain’s democratic history. For decades, these documents remained inaccessible under the shadow of a Franco-era law — the 1968 Official Secrets Act — which, despite Spain’s transition to democracy, has continued to govern classified information without clear declassification deadlines or effective independent oversight. Its origins and outdated nature have been widely criticised by human rights organisations, historians

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F CoupMarta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00

25 Mar 2025

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents Rules

Rachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

25 March 2025 - Access Info brings legal challenge against European Commission arguing that its new access to documents rules violate the Charter, the TFEU, and Regulation 1049/2001. Access Info, together with Emilio de Capitani and Päivi Leino-Sandberg, has brought a direct legal challenge before the General Court of the European Union, arguing that various provisions of the European Commission’s revised internal rules on access to documents violate the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter), the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and Regulation 1049/2001. Led by lawyers Rainer Hable, Onno Brouwer, Alvaro Pliego Selie, and

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents RulesRachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

23 Sep 2024

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

Madrid 23 September 2024 – Access Info is proud to announce the three finalists for the first-ever Access Info Impact Award. The Access Info Impact Award aims to honour individuals and organisations that have effectively used their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, or anti-corruption efforts. After opening nominations last month, the award received 21 high-calibre entries from civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and citizens across Europe. A distinguished Evaluation Committee has carefully reviewed all the nominations and shortlisted the following three outstanding candidates: Lighthouse Reports - Uncovering discrimination in algorithmic decision-making The investigative series

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

12 Aug 2024

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

Madrid, 12 August 2024 – Access Info Europe today announces the launch of the Access Info Impact Award which celebrates those who have used their right to information to have a positive impact on society. The Access Info Impact Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, and/or anti-corruption efforts. By celebrating exemplary achievements of civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners across Europe, the award aims to highlight the importance of the right to information and inspire others to utilise this powerful tool. Through this award,

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

4 Nov 2022

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human Rights

Helen Darbishire2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00

Photo: The French Assememblée Nationale in Paris, and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Strasbourg, 3 November 2022 - Access Info, ARTICLE 19, and ten access to information organisations from across Europe have submitted a brief to the European Court of Human Rights in a case against France demonstrating that information about expenses by members of parliament (MPs) falls under the scope of access to information laws and should be disclosed. Gathering comparative law and practice from across Europe, the third-party intervention – also known as an “amicus curiae” or friend of the court brief – was

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human RightsHelen Darbishire2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00

17 Oct 2022

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassination

Helen Darbishire2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00

Valletta, 16 October 2022 – Access Info is one of 36 freedom of expression and information groups which have denounced the Maltese government's lack of ambition and transparency in press freedom reforms and renewed calls for full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. The full statement reads as follows: Five years ago today, investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally assassinated in a car bomb attack in Malta. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. Together with them, we continue to fight for full justice. Today is a day to remember and celebrate her fearless journalism, the far-reaching impact of

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassinationHelen Darbishire2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00

15 Dec 2021

Eight leading civil society organisations banned from UN anti-corruption conference due to objections by Turkey

Helen Darbishire2021-12-15T17:25:00+01:00

Sharm El-Sheikh - Transparency International, Access Info Europe, The Good Lobby, and the UNCAC Coalition strongly condemn the exclusion of prominent civil society organisations from participating in the 9th session of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (CoSP), currently underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The CoSP plenary on the morning of 15 December 2021 failed to overturn the unfounded objections by the Turkish government. Many countries from the European Union and broader Europe, Canada, the US and other regions spoke out in support of the affected NGOs. The barred organisations include Access Info Europe (Spain),

Eight leading civil society organisations banned from UN anti-corruption conference due to objections by TurkeyHelen Darbishire2021-12-15T17:25:00+01:00

11 May 2021

Stop the harassment of human rights activists in Russia

Helen Darbishire2021-05-11T17:33:18+02:00

Madrid, 11 May 2021 – Access Info Europe and 97 civil society organisations and individuals today expressed concern about the Russian authorities' persecution and harassment of Ivan Pavlov, freedom of information advocate and lawyer defending opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation.

Stop the harassment of human rights activists in RussiaHelen Darbishire2021-05-11T17:33:18+02:00

19 Apr 2021

EU General Court reduces the legal costs claimed by Frontex against transparency activists

Helen Darbishire2021-04-19T17:00:47+02:00

Madrid, 19 April 2021 – Access Info Europe today gave a cautious welcome to the ruling of the General Court of the European Union that Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, had overcharged when it issued a legal bill of €23,700 to two transparency activists after they lost a court case, and that this amount should be reduced to €10,520.

EU General Court reduces the legal costs claimed by Frontex against transparency activistsHelen Darbishire2021-04-19T17:00:47+02:00

21 Jul 2020

Civil Society takes legal challenge to Spain’s Supreme Court over granting of €30 million to Morocco for migration control

Helen Darbishire2021-04-01T14:35:15+02:00

Madrid/Seville, 20 July 2020 – Human rights organisations Access Info Europe and Andalucía Acoge, with legal support from Gentium and research support from Profundo, today announced the submission of legal arguments to the Spanish Supreme Court in a case challenging the granting of €30 million from Spain’s Contingency Fund to the Moroccan authorities for the control of migration towards Spain.

Civil Society takes legal challenge to Spain’s Supreme Court over granting of €30 million to Morocco for migration controlHelen Darbishire2021-04-01T14:35:15+02:00