Status of the Right to Information in Pacific Island Countries

Status of the Right to Information in Pacific Island Countries

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Status of the Right to Information in Pacific Island Countries

December 17, 2020

The Right to Information (RTI) can be defined as the right of all persons to access information held by public bodies. Also commonly referred to as ‘the right to know’, Freedom of Information or Access to Information, RTI reflects the principle that all information held by governments and other public institutions is public information, and should only be withheld from the public for legitimate reasons (such as personal privacy or national security, subject to harm and public interest tests).

RTI is an integral part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression, as recognized by article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and article 19 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. More in the publication.