Citizens Demand Access to Public Information

Lack of Government Transparency Stops Democracy and Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pol Ham, Director
Advocacy and Policy Program
Mobile: 012 616 616
December 5, 2003

PHNOM PENH - Today, in a discussion with Mr. Peter Leuprecht, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, civil society groups called on the National Assembly to adopt a Freedom of Information Law. The event, organized by NGO Forum, focused on "Human Rights in Development and Poverty Reduction in Cambodia" and highlighted that access to public information was one way to ensure greater human rights.

During the forum, representatives from civil society groups expressed the desire for a more open flow of information from government to citizens to promote democracy and encourage economic development. In support, Pol Ham, Director of the Advocacy and Policy Program, commented, "Right now, Cambodian citizens receive information only when the government decides they need to know. To be a true democracy, every citizen must have the right to know."

Countries throughout the world are passing freedom of information laws in order to encourage government accountability to citizens, combat official secrecy, promote democratic principles and fight corruption. A freedom of information law provides citizens a legally enforceable right to access information regarding matters of public concern held by governments, public authorities, and in some cases, private bodies and companies.

Director Ham explained that a Working Group has been formed to consider a draft Freedom of Information law. With the assistance of Adhoc and Article 19, an NGO based in Great Britain, the draft is based on internationally-accepted principles such as:

• Maximum disclosure of public information by the government , with limited exceptions for national security concerns and protection of citizens' privacy rights
• Public institutions must actively promote open government, which includes public education about government's role and responsibility
• Meetings of public bodies should be open to the public
• Protection for whistleblowers (people who release information about government wrongdoing, usually a government employee)

Pol Ham emphasized that this new legislation would enforce existing constitutional rights, which include guarantees of freedom of expression, participation and assembly. "But," Pol Ham continued, "there are no proper mechanisms to encourage disclosure by public institutions and no procedures if they fail to comply with a citizen's request for information. We must make the process more transparent."