Freedom of information resources:

Key Websites

The freedominfo.org website provides country by country breakdown of the state of freedom of information across the world.

Right2INFO.org brings together information on the legal frameworks for the right to information from more than 80 countries, organized and analyzed by topic.

Complaint and Appeal Bodies: Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen

The document below is a list of complaint and appeal bodies around the world which can be contacted when citizens are unhappy after requesting information. In some cases these are the official appeal bodies of the country which have extensive powers, such as to order information to be released. In other cases they are Ombudsmen who may be directly or indirectly responsible for dealing with certain complaints when information is not disclosed.

Problems with Accessing Information: Useful Complaint and Appeal Bodies Worldwide

Research Institutes

Centre for FOI, Univeristy of Dundee, Scotland

http://www.centrefoi.org.uk/

Center of Studies for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, "Centro de Estudios en Libertad de Expresión y Acceso a la Información", Palermo University, School of Law, Argentina

http://www.palermo.edu/derecho/centros/cele.html

Collaboration on Government Secrecy, USA

http://www.wcl.american.edu/lawandgov/cgs/

Constitution Unit, University College Londo, UK

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/research/foi/index.htm

International School for Transparency, Faculty of Public Law, Södertörn University

http://www.istinfo.net/

Open Democracy Advice Centre, South Africa

http://www.opendemocracy.org.za/

University of Tasmania, Australia

http://ricksnell.com.au/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=2&Itemid=23

Literature on Freedom of Information: A Seclective Biography

This document is a bibliography of key research papers and studies on the right of access to information and freedom of information. The bibliography is organised by overviews and comparative stdies, FOI Theory, Measuring FOI and country based papers.

The Freedom of Information Advocates Network is grateful to the Constitution Unit of the Department of Political Science, University College London for compiling this biography of FOI resources.

Documentaries and Graphic Resources

Right to Know Day Documentaries from AIP Bulgaria: The Right to Know Day documentary: http://www.aip-bg.org/matra/rkd_film_en.php Media and Access to Information - Five Investigative Reporter Stories at: http://www.aip-bg.org/matra/documentaryen.php (with English subtitles) http://www.aip-bg.org/matra/documentaryru.php (with Russian Subtitles).

La informacion es de todos: Denuncia a quien no te da informacion (Information is for everyone. Denounce those who do not release it) Poster by Consejo de la Prensa Peruana Available here: Acrobat Reader PDF (105kb)

Guides, Handbooks and Toolkits

Practival guide on the access to information of public interest, Romania
Full text: Acrobat Reader PDF (41kb)

"How to Get Access to Environmental Information" handbook by Access to Information Programme, Bulgaria
Full text: Acrobat Reader PDF (253kb)

106 odpovedi na vase dotazy Prirucka pro obcany o svobodnem pristupu k informacim (106 answers to your questions, Handbook for obtaining free access to information) by Otevrena spolecnost, The Czech Republic.
Full text: Acrobat Reader PDF (184kb)

Papers and other Written Resources

Statewatch's Observatory on: "FOI in the EU" which carries the most extensive coverage of the struggle for openness in the EU over the past 15 years:
http://www.statewatch.org/foi.htm

Overview of all 90 FOIA countries & territories 2009 by Roger Vleugels - independent Dutch-based legal consultant.

Freedom of Information Legislation in Russia 2003, Currently situation
Marina Savintseva, Programme Co-ordinator Access to Information, Center for Anti-corruption Research and Initiative Transparency International - R
Full text: Acrobat Reader PDF (35kb)

Open Sesame: Looking for the Right to Information in the Commonwealth
The Report examines the right to information in Commonwealth countries. Executive summary: Acrobat PDF (1300Kb)

Latest Laws and Jurisprudence

Access to Information Litigation in Bulgaria 2005-2008: Selected Cases, volume 4 Access to Information Programme (AIP) Foundation has published volume 4 of the book Access to Information Litigation in Bulgaria 2005-2008: Selected Cases.
The book is available online in English at: http://www.aip-bg.org/books.htm.