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16 Oct 2019

United Nations Proclaims 28 September as the International Day of Universal Access to Information

2020-01-29T10:35:51+01:00

Madrid, 16 October 2019 – In an historic moment for the right of access to information, the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 28 September of each year as the International Day of the Universal Right of Access to Information. Access Info’s founder and director, Helen Darbishire, one of the experts who founded and promoted the day, commented “The importance of the right of access to information for defending other human rights, for restoring trust, and for advancing inclusive, democratic societies, has today been recognised.” “This is a huge achievement for the civil society movement which first named 28 September

United Nations Proclaims 28 September as the International Day of Universal Access to Information2020-01-29T10:35:51+01:00
1 Aug 2019

Spain: Access Info presents report to UN Human Rights Council on violations of right of access to information

2020-01-29T10:36:45+01:00

Madrid, 01 August 2019 –  Access Info has submitted to the UN Human Rights Council a report on the ways in which the right of access to information is violated in Spain and has called on the Spanish government to bring the legal framework into line with international standards. Specifically Access Info has called for recognition by the Spanish government of access to information as a fundamental right, which would end discrimination against requesters: currently the identity requirements mean that only those who are Spanish citizens  or residents can submit requests. Furthermore, a failure to educate the wider public about

Spain: Access Info presents report to UN Human Rights Council on violations of right of access to information2020-01-29T10:36:45+01:00
21 Dec 2016

UNESCO urged to be transparent about its transparency policy!

2018-11-13T10:03:44+01:00

Madrid, 21 December 2016 - Over 50 of the world’s leading civil society organisations, along with key experts, have called on UNESCO to share a draft access to information policy, which it is currently being discussed inside the organisation. In a letter to UNESCO Secretary General Irina Bokova, the civil society access to information groups stress “the cardinal importance of engaging in genuine consultations with external stakeholders as part of the process of developing a policy in this area,” to ensure that the final policy reflects the concerns of those it is designed to benefit. Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of

UNESCO urged to be transparent about its transparency policy!2018-11-13T10:03:44+01:00
7 Jun 2016

Access Info condemns slashing of World Bank’s Access to Information Unit

2018-11-13T10:04:10+01:00

Calls for Transparency to be core part of future governance agenda Madrid, 7 June 2016 - Access Info Europe has criticised the decision by the World Bank to axe its department working on access to information and called on it to keep promotion of transparency as a core part of promoting good, open government. Access Info also expressed concern that the Bank is likely to stop work on developing indicators that can be used to measure Sustainable Development Goal 16.10.2 on the right of access to information, something that other bodies such as UNESCO had been planning to rely on

Access Info condemns slashing of World Bank’s Access to Information Unit2018-11-13T10:04:10+01:00
17 Dec 2015

The Uncounted: Lack Of Migrant Detention Data Denounced

2018-11-13T10:04:24+01:00

Madrid/Geneva, 17 November 2015 - A serious lack of information about the number of migrants and asylum seekers in detention across Europe is impeding informed public debate, report Access Info Europe and the Global Detention Project following submission of access to information requests in 33 countries. The report comes as EU heads of government meet in Brussels for their last summit of the year, with migration a key topic. This lack of publicly available information on the scale and nature of detention is of particular concern now as Europe seeks to restrict the arrival of refugees. In the report issued

The Uncounted: Lack Of Migrant Detention Data Denounced2018-11-13T10:04:24+01:00
3 Dec 2015

Excessive exceptions impede access to draft transparency policy of UN environmental body

2018-11-13T10:04:26+01:00

Madrid, 3 December 2015 - Access Info Europe has raised concerns about unnecessary exceptions to access that have been included in the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) draft transparency policy which, if adopted in its current form, would severely restrict transparency inside the world’s highest environmental-protection authority. As part of a submission to UNEP’s public consultation on the policy, the pro-transparency organisation urged scrapping extra exceptions such as “documents created by the United Nations, received from or sent to third parties, under an expectation of confidentiality”, which fall outside international standards on access to information. “Whilst it is bad enough

Excessive exceptions impede access to draft transparency policy of UN environmental body2018-11-13T10:04:26+01:00
4 Aug 2015

Sustainable Development Goals Now Include Commitments on Transparency and Participation

2018-11-13T10:04:48+01:00

Madrid, 4 August 2015 – Access Info Europe, along with the other members of the Transparency, Accountability and Participation Network, have welcomed the inclusion of specific references to open data, transparency and participation in the outcome document summarising the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. The organisations had previously written to all UN delegations on 9 April 2015 with suggestions for drafting the document that sought to strengthen the commitments on transparency and openness, some of which were taken on board. However, the organisations lamented the fact that the commiments on transparency or open data were not substantiated by

Sustainable Development Goals Now Include Commitments on Transparency and Participation2018-11-13T10:04:48+01:00
22 May 2015

Civil society secures European Parliament support for transparency of mineral imports

2018-11-13T09:46:30+01:00

Madrid, 22 May 2015 – The European Parliament this week took a strong stance in favour of binding rules on transparency for the mineral extraction industry, following a letter sent to MEPs signed by 157 civil society organisations, including Access Info Europe, calling for action to tackle the deadly trade in conflict minerals. The civil society letter called on MEPs to require all companies bringing minerals into the EU – whether in their raw form or contained in products – to carry out supply chain due diligence and publicly report in line with international standards. If it eventually becomes law,

Civil society secures European Parliament support for transparency of mineral imports2018-11-13T09:46:30+01:00
29 Apr 2015

Police and Protests Infographics

2018-11-13T09:46:32+01:00

'Transparency of the Policing of Protests': Report Infographics Below you will find our seven infographics (one interactive, and six question-by-question) on the research conducted for our Transparency of the Policing of Protests Report. Please feel free to download and use these as you wish - why not share them on social media! Findings Question-by-Question Report Summary And Overview Report Findings Question-by-Question We asked about legislation... We asked about the types of equipment permitted in protests... We asked about supplementary equipment at their disposal...

Police and Protests Infographics2018-11-13T09:46:32+01:00
24 Apr 2015

The Transparency of the Policing of Protests

2018-11-13T09:46:33+01:00

Report finds Europe-wide Lack of Transparency of Policing of Protests Madrid, 24 April 2015 - There is a serious lack of transparency about the use of various types of equipment during policing of protests according to a report published today by Access Info Europe, following research conducted in 42 countries and territories across Europe by means of access to information requests. The research by the Madrid-based pro-transparency organisation aimed to get a comprehensive picture of the legal framework for, and the actual use of different types of, equipment – including batons, shields, tear gas, and rubber bullets. This goal was

The Transparency of the Policing of Protests2018-11-13T09:46:33+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.