Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Preface
Summary of Findings
Recommendations
Introduction
1. International Standards on Access to Information
1.1 The Access to Information Monitoring Tool
1.2 The Classification of Outcomes Used in the Monitoring Study
2. Main Findings of the Monitoring Study
2.1 Half of the Information Requests Met with Silence
2.2 Access to Information Laws Increase Responsiveness
2.3 Results Were Inconsistent Even Where Good
2.4 The Spread of FOI Laws
2.5 Responsiveness Improves through NGO Involvement
3. Findings by Type of Outcome and Legal Analysis
3.1 Unable to Submit/Refusal to Accept: Requesters Can Face Significant Obstacles to Submitting Requests
3.2 Oral Refusals: Little More than a Brush Off
3.3 Sent Elsewhere: Transfers and Referrals
3.4 Information Not Held: The Failure to Collect Information
3.5 Information Received: On Time and of High Quality
3.6 Partial and Inadequate Information: Poor Excuses
3.7 Written Refusals: Defining Exemptions
4. Findings by Monitoring Variables: Requesters, Requests, Time Frames
4.1 Discrimination in Provision of Information: Variation by Requester
4.2 Routine, Difficult and Sensitive: Outcomes by Different Request Types
4.3 On Time or Not at All: Time frames and Late Information

About the Author

Helen Darbishire is a human rights activist specializing in the public’s right of access to information, and the development of open and democratic societies with participatory and accountable governments. Ms Darbishire is founder and Executive Director of the Madrid-based NGO Access Info Europe, established in 2006 to promote the right of access to information in Europe and globally.