Is Access to Environmental Information a Fundamental Human Right?
Oregon Review of International Law, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2009
40 Pages Posted: 11 Aug 2010
Date Written: August 11, 2010
Abstract
Can access to information held by the State be seen as a fundamental right of the individual and a crucial component of democracy? What about access to environmental information? This Article attempts to answer these questions by exploring international treaties and agreements, national constitutions, and national information laws. The Article starts by providing some background and history on the issue of public access to government records. It analyzes the extent of the right of access to information, restrictions on access to information, procedures for obtaining information from governmental agencies, and remedies for violating the right of access to information. It also identifies problems that frequently arise in the field of public access to information and makes recommendations for promoting public access to environmental information, based on examples where such practices are already in place.
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