Guide
GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information
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More than 115 countries worldwide have laws that require officials to turn over public records. Of course, even in countries that have no laws it never hurts to ask. But there’s an advantage to using an access law — variously called freedom of information laws, access to information laws, right to information, and right to know laws.
There are many resources for journalists seeking to file records requests in countries with laws governing access to information. To help exploit these legal tools, we’ve lined up GIJN’s Complete Global Guide to Freedom of Information, a resource with three sections.
Chapters
Chapter Guide Resource
GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information: FOI Tips and Tricks
This is part one of our three part series: GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information. FOI Tips and Tricks offers a round up of expert advice from around the world. Nobody pretends that it’s easy or always productive to exercise the right to information. But the return on investment can be very positive. To […]
Chapter Guide Resource
GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information: Inspirational FOI
This is part two of our three part series: GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information. Inspirational FOI offers real world examples from experts around the world. Journalists sometimes illustrate their disappointment with the FOI process by posting pictures of documents covered with black marks which mask material deemed by the government to be exempt […]
Chapter Guide Resource
GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information: Resources
This is part three of our three part series: GIJN’s Global Guide to Freedom of Information. We’ve located national, regional and international sites filled with advice and information. Note: this is not a complete list of countries with FOI laws. For that information, see The RTI Rating. Also included are governmental and nongovernmental sites that […]
Chapter Guide Resource
GIJN’s Guide to National Rules on Where Foreigners Can Make FOI Requests
In some countries, foreigners can apply for documents using national access laws. This GIJN resource summarizes where this is possible. National freedom of information (FOI) and right to information (RTI) laws typically define who can make requests. These definitions were collected by Right to Information Rating, a global rating of the laws in 124 countries […]