Members of FOIAnet are civil society organizations with active programmes to promote the right to know.

That is, the right of everyone to ask questions of governments and inter-governmental organisations and to receive answers. The right of access to information also places the obligation on governments to promote information proactively so that the public can know what public authorities are doing without having to file requests for information.

FOIAnet runs a discussion list for news and debate on the right of access to information; there are currently over 400 people on this list, including CSO representatives and lawyers, academics, information commissioners and others with a specialised interest in the right to information.

The FOI Advocates Network launched International Right to Know Day. The first International Right Know Day was celebrated on 28 September 2003. Every year on 28th September activities take place around the world to promote the right to of access to information: the right to know!

If you wish to apply for membership, please send an e-mail enquiry to the FOIAnet coordinator, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or the Chair of the Steering Committee, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How to join the Freedom of Information Advocates Network

If you are an individual

If you are an individual and you are actively working on Freedom on Information issues you can become a member of our discussion list. This is where advocates share news of latest developments, discuss current access to information issues, technical points and events in the spirit of confidence and cooperation sharing the goal to advance the right of access to information globally. The discussion list is open to those working on these issues in the NGO, academic and legal fields. We will consider applications from those working outside these sectors and where in doubt will refer decisions about membership of all types to our steering committee.

If you are interested in joining our discussion list please send an e-mail with your name, e-mail address, organisation, occupation and reason for interest to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you are an organisation

If you are an individual and you are actively working on Freedom on Information issues you can become a full member of the FOIAnet. This means you and your colleagues  can join the discussion list, we will add you to the website and you will be included in all activities of the network such as elections and Right to Know Day events.

If you are interested in becoming a member have a look at the documents about the founding of the FOIAnet below, fill in the form and send it to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  We will then consult with our steering committee and aim to have you up on the website in around about a week.

Sign-up Form English Spanish

Memo of Establishment English Spanish

Annex to Meno of Establishment English Spanish

Founding Members English

FOIAnet Steering Committee

The Steering Committee of the Freedom of Information Advocates Network is a key element of the FOIAnet. By periodically changing the membership of the Steering Committee the FOIAnet aims allow many organizations working on the right to know to get involved in strengthening the network and ensuring that it meets the needs of its members.

The functions of the FOIAnet Steering Committee are to:

• Bring expertise and ideas to the FOIAnet from a diverse range of communities and regions;
• Oversee approval of membership of new organizations;
• Oversee funding of the FOIAnet, contributing ideas and helping the Coordinator with fundraising proposals;
• Work with the Coordinator and the network itself to promote Right to Know Day on 28th September each year;
• On occasions you could be asked to represent the FOIAnet at events, this would be optional and in the past has not happened very often;
• Discuss with the FOIAnet Coordinator when and how to organize new elections.
• Promote the Right to Know and the FOIAnet.

The Steering Committee is made up of 7 members, one of whom is the Chair. The Chair is the nominee who receives most votes in the elections. The role of the Chair is the same as those of the other members but they also become the primary spokesperson for the network.

In the 2006-2010 period the members of the Steering Committee were: Helen Darbishire (Chair, Access Info Europe), Andrea Figari (Transparency International Secretariat) Andres Mejia (IPYS Colombia), Gergana Jouleva (AIP, Bulgaria), Asem Rababa (Adaleh Center For Human Rights), Kristin Adair (formerly National Security Archive), and Nana Oye Lithur (Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Ghana)

Members of organisations of the FOIAnet have an opportunity to nominate themselves to the FOIAnet steering committee every 2-4 years. All member organisations are able to vote in the elections of the new Steering Committees.

FOIAnet Funding

The Freedom of Information Advocates Network was founded in 2002. It is not a registered organization, but rather a network run with the voluntary efforts of its members, including the members of the Steering Committee who do not receive any form of stipend.

We are grateful to the Open Society Justice Initiative for its support of the coordination of the network, maintenance of the mailing list and ongoing work of the Webmaster and website updating. The grant, was during 2003-2008 managed by the Access to Information Programme, Bulgaria and in 2008-2009 by Access Info Europe, Spain.

The current annual running costs are about $16,000 / € 12,000 per year with additional funds for translation of materials.

We are currently seeking funding for continuing to maintain the list and website and for translating the website into other languages (particularly Spanish as we have an active community in Latin America, and also French for Francophone Africa). To translate the entire site, with a budget for ongoing updates is around €3000 / $4200 per language for the first year; thereafter around €1000/ $1400 per year.

If any individuals or private foundations would like to contribute to these costs, please contact the Chair of the Steering Committee, currently This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it