There is a simple answer to this question: everyone.

Like all human rights, it is something that everyone is entitled to - even if not everyone gets to enjoy it in practice.

It is important to stress that this is not something for a particular section of the population only, e.g.: journalists, researchers or academics. It is a right that everyone has.

This also means that ideally, within individual countries, the right should be enjoyed by citizens and non-citizens alike.

It is important that governments take the necessary steps to:

• Protect the independence and pluralism of the media
• Extend internet connectivity
• Guarantee the independence and openness of the judicial system
• Organise impartial inquiries into human rights violations or other important events
• Have permanent institutions to monitor protection of human rights and to investigate maladministration.

But an access to information law will do something extra:

• It will make sure that official bodies publish information of interest to the public
• It will allow members of the public to make requests for information
• It will protect whistleblowers.