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Access to information news
Some websites to watch:
Windhoek + 20 / African Platform on Access to Information website
http://www.article19.org/Article 19
11 November 2011: UNESCO publication “The Global Casebook of Investigative journalism” announced at the 6th Global Investigative Journalism Conference
The Casebook follows and complements “Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists” (UNESCO 2009), and contains recent investigative stories from nearly every region of the world, with afterwards explaining how the authors conducted their research and writing.
Read more on the UNESCO website
11 November: Right to Know Day or Right to Information Day?
A spirited discussion is under way over whether Sept 28, a day that for nine years has been called “Right to Know Day,” should be renamed as “Right to Information Day.”
Read more on the freedominfo.org website
11 November 2011: Botswana: Southern Africa’s Most Secretive State
This year’s “Golden Padlock” award for the Southern African country with the most secretive public institutions went to Botswana.
Read more on the Windhoek+20 / African Platform on Access to Information website
9 November 2011: South Africa - Why are citizens denied access to information pertaining to food safety and quality assurance?
A critical issue confronting all unsuspecting customers and or consumers is the immediate access to information. Which is accurate, truthful and honest when querying the food safety, quality and regulatory compliancy of the food and beverage products. They have consumed or intend to consume from no matter whom was and or is involved in supply chain of the food or beverage product.
8 November: South Africa – Whistleblowers must expose corruption
The Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) has encouraged whistleblowers to expose corruption in the workplace, despite there being gaps in legislation protecting those who expose wrongful acts
Read more on the Open Democracy Advice Centre website
7 November 2011: Kenya - Draft Data Protection Bill critically limited
ARTICLE 19 finds the Draft Kenya Data Protection Bill 2009 currently undergoing internal review and stakeholder consultation to be critically limited and calls on the Constitution Implementation Commission to revise it to be in line with acceptable international standards on the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information.
Read more on the Article 19 website
1 November 2011: South Africa – Municipal secrecy not on: Citizens have a right to know — Zackie Achmat & Fritz Jooste
Between 12 July and 19 October 2011, the SJC and Ndifuna Ukwazi requested the tender specifications and service delivery agreements between the City and all private companies responsible for solid waste and sanitation services in informal settlements… Despite numerous requests submitted to the City’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) office, it was only through the direct intervention of Mayor de Lille that on 20 October 2011 we received much (but not all) of the information we sought.
Read more on the Windhoek + 20 / African Platform in Access to Information website
Read more on the Writing Rights Blog
29 October 2011: All African governments urged to pass access to information legislation
During the 50th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights held in late October, the Working Group on African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) urged all the African Governments to endeavour and passed a law on access to information.
Read more on the Windhoek+20 / African Platform on Access to Information website
