In the last decade, there has been an almost unstoppable trend towards the recognition of the right to information as a fundamental human right by  intergovernmental organisations and countries around the world.

The importance of the right to information was already recognised in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 59 (I) of 14 December 1946, stating: "Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and [...] the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated."

It was later incorporated in a number of international and regional instruments including: Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Part IV of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa; Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights, Paragraph 2 and 3 of the Inter-American Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, OAS General Assembly Resolution AG/RES. 1932 (XXXIII-O/03) on Access to Public Information: Strengthening Democracy; Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 255 European Community Treaty.

Today over seventy countries around the world have implemented some form of freedom of information legislation and many more countries are working towards introducing such laws. These laws set rules on access to information or records held by government bodies and define a legal process by which government information is made available to the public. In this respect, the right to information entitles citizens to seek information which is held by or under the control of public bodies. The right to information puts public bodies under the corresponding obligation to meet information requests of citizens, unless previously defined exceptions apply, and furthermore obliges public bodies to proactively provide certain key information, even in the absence of a request. 

The right to information is an empowering instrument with the potential to serve as a tool for good governance, against corruption, to strengthen democracy, and to fulfil other human rights, including a number of civil and political rights such as freedom of expression as well as economic, social and cultural rights such as right to food, right to education, right to health. A precondition for the utilisation of the right to information for these purposes is the enactment of a detailed procedural right to information law which is in line with international standards and inspired by the principle of maximum disclosure of information, coupled with its effective implementation and enforcement, supported by the engagement of civil society.

To learn more on right to information, please visit:

International Standards

Regional Standards – Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe

International and Regional Institutions 

International Civil Society and Non-governmental Organisations 

Literature

Information Tools

The Public Affairs Centre in Bangalore established in September 2006 the 20 months “Right to Information Empowerment Programme” funded by HIVOS. This programme aims at improving the right to information legislation, the implementation and enforcement of such legislation and the utilisation of the right to information as a tool for democracy, good governance and the protection of human rights in a number of South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

The Right to Information Empowerment Programme focuses on facilitating the effective engagement of active citizens, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, human rights activists and development experts in the field of the right to information, through awareness raising, capacity building and research activities.

To learn more on the Public Affairs Centre’s Right to Information Empowerment Programme activities, please visit:

Right to Information Empowerment Programme - Overview

Right to Information Training for NGOs from India

Right to Information Training for NGOs from Karnataka

Right to Information Training for NGOs from Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Right to Information Training for NGOs from Bangladesh and Nepal

Right to Information Research

Strategic Litigation on Right to Information