Promoting freedom of information in the Pacific: a case study in Tonga
In 2005, the Pacific Leaders Forum agreed the first Pacific Plan, which committed the region to four key areas of work - good governance, sustainable development, economic growth and security. This set of objectives largely reflects the reform programmes being pursued domestically by many Pacific island countries. While a range of options have been canvassed in furtherance of these goals, one mechanism - the right to information, implemented through law and /or policy - could contribute significantly to the achievement of all four of these objectives, if innovatively implemented.
The fundamentals of information disclosure
An effective access to information regime can be a vital tool in promoting more participatory development and more effective governance. Openness underpins the good governance principles of transparency and accountability. Information sharing also assists communities to more effectively engage in the design, implementation and evaluation of development projects and programmes. Information disclosure supports economic growth, in particular, because investors and markets are more likely to reward transparent, open economic environments. National stability and security are underpinned by policies of openness, which engender greater public trust in government officials. Different terminology has been used to describe information disclosure regimes ñ freedom of information, access to information, the right to know ñ but fundamentally, the concept remains the same.
At the heart of any information disclosure regime are four key principles:
The duty of the government to provide maximum information disclosure to the public - both in response to requests and by regularly publishing key information - unless specific, defined exemptions apply;
The need to ensure that access processes are user-friendly, timely, affordable and promote maximum accessibility for people throughout the country, including people in rural areas and from marginalised groups of the community;
The need to ensure that requesters have access to a complaints process if access is not being properly provided, which will permit investigations by an independent review mechanism with strong powers to promote access and to ensure that any non-compliance or wrongdoing is dealt with appropriately;
The need to ensure implementation of an access policy is effective, most notably by monitoring and reporting on access in practice, providing training to officials and undertaking public education programmes to ensure people are aware of their right to access information.
This summary was first published as part of the Pacific Information Disclosure Toolkit produced for the Pacific Media and Communications Facility by Charmaine Rodrigues, in her role as Right to Information Programme Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
