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About Helen Darbishire

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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
9 Oct 2009

Commitment to review Counter-Terror laws in Europe

2018-11-13T10:14:03+01:00

Commitment to Review Counter-Terror Laws in Europe On Wednesday 7 October Access Info joined 40 organisations in sending an open letter to the Council of Europe’s new Secretary General Thorbjoern Jagland calling for follow up to the commitment made by member states at a meeting held in Reykjavik in May 2009 to review the impact of counter-terror laws on freedom of expression and access to information. We have since received news that the letter has been received and is on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee on Media and New Communication Services (CDMC)

Commitment to review Counter-Terror laws in Europe2018-11-13T10:14:03+01:00
28 Sep 2009

Letter to Zapatero

2018-11-13T10:14:03+01:00

The Coalición Pro Acceso calls for an open and participatory debate around Spain’s new access to information law To mark International Right to Know Day (28 September) the Coalición Pro Acceso launched a campaign in support of access to information in Spain. The Coalición Pro Acceso yesterday wrote to President Zapatero welcoming his recent announcements confirming that the Spanish Government is preparing a law on access to information. The platform of over 30 leading Spanish NGOs and academic experts called for the drafting of the law to be transparent and participatory to ensure inclusion of the Nine Principles which the

Letter to Zapatero2018-11-13T10:14:03+01:00
21 Aug 2009

Exceptions

2021-03-04T13:42:25+01:00

Exceptions: Can I get access to all information (or documents) held by public bodies? No. The right of access to information is not an absolute right. There may be some small quantities of information that public bodies hold that would cause harm if they were released, at least if released at this point in time. For example, to release all information about an ongoing police criminal inquiry might harm the possibility that the police will catch the criminal suspect. After the enquiry is finished and the criminal arrested, the information could be released. This is an example of information being

Exceptions2021-03-04T13:42:25+01:00
13 Aug 2009

Documents not in a file

2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00

The Spanish Ministry of Culture refuses to provide information: On the grounds that the documents “are not part of a file” 17 September 2008 Access Info Europe today launched its campaign to litigate in defence of the right of access to information in Spain with a legal challenge against the Ministry of Culture for refusing to release information on how copyright royalties are spent. The request made by a citizen to the Ministry of Culture was for copies of the annual reports by Spain’s General Association of Authors (the SGAE) as well as the VEGAP (the society that manage the intellectual

Documents not in a file2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00
13 Aug 2009

Cuando lo Publico no es Publico

2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00

Spain: Study reveals that citizen’s information requests meet with silence, evasion, and absurd answers 1 October 2008 A report by Access Info Europe published today reveals that of over forty requests filed with more than twenty public bodies in Spain during the past year, a full 78% did not receive the requested information. Download the Report ‘Cuando lo Público no es Público’

Cuando lo Publico no es Publico2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00
6 Aug 2009

Transparency of the Stockholm Programme

2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00

Transparency of the Stockholm Programme On 15 April 2009, Access Info joined other members of the European Civil Liberties Network in a statement raising concerns about the potential detrimental impact of the EU's "Stockholm programme" on civil liberties in Europe. The "Stockholm Programme" sets the agenda for EU justice and home affairs and internal security policy from 2010 to 2014 and will extend militarised border controls, discriminatory immigration policies, mandatory and proactive surveillance regimes and an increasingly aggressive external security and defence policy. Access Info is calling for the process of adopting and reviewing any new measures to be transparent.

Transparency of the Stockholm Programme2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00
6 Aug 2009

Litigation

2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00

Access Info's Litigation at the European Union Access Info Europe v. Council of the European Union, Hellenic Republic and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – T-233/2009 The EU is reforming its rules on access to documents and Access Info wanted to know what position each government was taking on the reform. We asked the Council of the EU on 3 December 2008, and it responded on 17 December. The Council granted Access Info partial access to the documents requested: we were provided with the summary of the discussions but without the names of the countries which had

Litigation2018-11-13T10:14:04+01:00
25 Jul 2009

History of Right of Access to Information

2021-11-24T17:34:28+01:00

History of Right of Access to Information Access to Information: A Fundamental Right, A Universal Standard, 17 January 2006. [cited in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe during the debate on the new Convention on Access to Official Documents in October 2008]. · 1766 – Sweden adopts world’s first access to information law: The law establishes press freedom, including the freedom to print and disseminate materials about the government, courts, and parliament. The law, which forms part of Sweden’s constitution, recognises that press freedom is contingent upon access to information and states “to that end free access should

History of Right of Access to Information2021-11-24T17:34:28+01:00
25 Jul 2009

“Legal Leaks”: Access to information and data security for journalists

2021-03-04T13:41:37+01:00

Journalists play a central role in initiating and stimulating public debates but face constant challenges in accessing information from public bodies, particularly when that information relates to issues such as corruption and organised crime, violations of human rights, controversial international relations, environmental contamination, relationships with business and lobby groups, and the more sensitive aspects of EU integration. These challenges are increasing due to limitations on freedom of expression and access to information resulting from new counter-terrorism and security measures. At the same time increased use of electronic surveillance technologies by public (and private) bodies is making it harder for journalists

“Legal Leaks”: Access to information and data security for journalists2021-03-04T13:41:37+01:00
25 Jul 2009

Civil Liberties

2018-11-13T10:14:05+01:00

Promoting access to information for defence of civil liberties and human rights In the past decade, the European Union and its member states have introduced a large number of measures which are designed to prevent and combat terrorism. These measures include communications data retention, biometric passports, DNA collection and CCTV surveillance. In the post-September 11th climate it has proven remarkably easy for governments to advance and adopt measures which impact on fundamental rights including the rights to privacy, freedom of association and expression, detention without trial, and freedom of movement.

Civil Liberties2018-11-13T10:14:05+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.