Helen Darbishire 

Founder (1961 – 2024)

Helen Darbishire was a human rights activist specialising in the right of access to information (freedom of information) and the development of open and democratic societies with participatory and accountable governments.

Helen founded Access Info in Madrid in 2006, with the goal of promoting the right of access to information across Europe and globally.

Since then, both she and the organisation have become global references for the promotion and protection of the right to information, Open Government, the fight against corruption and the defence of human rights in Spain, in the European Union and at the international level.

In her own name, and through Access Info, Helen has been involved in many impressive achievements in the area of access to information over the years:

  • The founding of 28 September as Right to Know Day, which has been recognised as an official UNESCO day since 2016, and a UN official day since 2019;
  • Advocating for greater transparency through strategic litigation at the EU level (General Court in Access Info Europe v Council) and national level (Access Info Europe v Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security);
  • Creation of the Pro Access Coalition, a civil society transparency network formed of Spanish CSOs, which calls for greater transparency in Spain;
  • Assisting in drafting and promoting the implementation of access to information laws in Europe, Latin America and Africa, as well as advising intergovernmental organisations such as UNESCO, Council of Europe, OSCE, and World Bank;
  • Contributing to international movements on transparency, open government and anti-corruption through serving on the OGP Steering Committee for two terms, from 2016 to 2022, and as chair of the UNCAC Coalition from 2020 to 2023;
  • Authoring important work that contributed to the field of access to information, as well as training journalists, civil society activists, and public officials globally on the right.

Helen started her career as a campaigner at Article 19 (1989 to 1998) based in London and Paris. She then worked with the Open Society Foundations (1999-2005), based first in Budapest and then in New York, directing global programmes on freedom of expression and freedom of information.

Helen passed away on Friday 18th October 2024.