Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

In 1990, only 13 countries had laws recognizing a right to access information held by public bodies, which has variously been called the right to know and →  freedom of information , among other things. As of the time of writing, the number is approaching 70 countries, and many of the new constitutions adopted since 1990 recognize access to information as a fundamental human right. Numerous intergovernmental bodies, particularly financial institutions like the World Bank, have also adopted policies on the disclosure of information. This explosion in legal and policy recognition has been accompanied by a similar growth in authoritative international statements on the importance of access to information, the key focus of this entry. The UN has yet to adopt a treaty or other document explicitly guaranteeing a right to access information held by public authorities, although it is increasingly seen as part of the general right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to “seek, receive and impart” information and ideas. In its “observations” on the regular reports states are required to submit to it every five years, the UN Human Rights Committee, the official body tasked with implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , has expressed concern with unduly broad secrecy laws on a number of occasions (for example in relation to Armenia [1998], Uzbekistan ... log in or subscribe to read full text