The right to information around the world

Countries with no right to information law or initiative/No information available Countries with a pending right to information bill or initiative Countries with a right to information regulation Countries with a right to information law

The right to information enables the public and civil society to access information held by public bodies, and empowers them to hold their leaders accountable, develop a fuller understanding of the world, and ensure other human rights. Over the past few decades, governments have increasingly sought to implement this right in their laws, in the form of Right to Information laws or regulations.

Access to information is critical to achieving the SDGs

Three years ago, global governments agreed to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals, to tackle poverty, corruption, gender inequality and pollution, among many issues. Critical in the agreement is Goal 16, which requires states to implement the right of public access to information. But the right to information is more than a single goal – it cuts across the SDGs, empowering individuals to participate in decision making and demand access to their rights.

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The right to information around the world
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Progress on right to information around the world