Right to Information: International

CHRI's International Right to Information (RTI) Program focuses on monitoring and supporting the push for recognition and implementation of the right to information throughout the 53 states of the Commonwealth, and the institutions of the Commonwealth itself.

In practice, the program includes the following:

Networking: CHRI works to support the local efforts of right to information advocates in member states. A key feature of CHRI's International RTI Program is networking and partnering with grassroots organisations throughout the Commonwealth which are committed to the right to information. Organisations that wish to work with CHRI should not hesitate to contact us.

Support for legislating and implementing RTI: Facilitating the effective entrenchment of the right to access to information in member states and the institutions of the Commonwealth is one of the key aims of CHRI's International RTI Program. To this end, CHRI is active not only in reviewing and commenting upon draft laws, but also in assisting like-minded organisations to exchange best practice and lessons learned.

Advocacy: CHRI's advocacy in support of the right to information is primarily directed towards the Official Commonwealth, governments and key stakeholders in member states, as well as the citizens of the Commonwealth themselves.

Workshops: CHRI organises and participates in right to information workshops designed to raise awareness of the value of the right to information - among policy-makers, NGOs and the public - and to disseminate best practice and lessons learned. CHRI's next major RTI workshop will be held just prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in December 2003.

Research & Publications: CHRI is active in undertaking original RTI research and producing RTI publications, including our seminal report, "Open Sesame: Looking for the Right to Information in the Commonwealth".

Web-based RTI resources: This website is a key feature of CHRI's International International RTI Program, as the related pages provide a collection of materials of relevance to Commonwealth RTI advocates, including international standards, Commonwealth guidelines and member states' laws. CHRI also sources relevant articles on the right to information from throughout the world and collects them on this website as a Commonwealth-specific resource for RTI advocates in every member state.