Toby Mendel's document discusses the importance of access to information laws and open governance. It outlines key elements of these laws like shifting the presumption to openness, proactively disclosing information, and releasing open data. Access to information promotes accountability, participation, and reduces corruption. While laws are a start, fully implementing them requires institutional support structures, training, and engaging the public, civil society and business. Recent developments in the MENA region around adopting these laws are exciting opportunities to promote more open governance.

1. Relevance of Transparency, Accountability and Participation Since
the Arab Spring
7-9 April 2013: Cairo
The Role of Access to Information In Promoting Governance
Toby Mendel

2. Orientation
 Access to information held by public
authorities
 Public authorities do not own the information
they hold
 Presumption of openness vs. presumption of
secrecy

3. Key Elements
 Access to information law
 Shift of presumption
 Proactive disclosure: reaching out
 South Africa: notice boards
 Pakistan: barber shops
 Open data
 Recent development

4. Global Trends
 Laws: 13-95
 Jordan, Tunisia, Yemen
 Human right
 Constitutions (1990s)
 International law: seek and receive

5. Participation
 Generational change: elections to participation
 My home
 http://maps.google.com/maps?q=b3m+3s7&hl=en&ll=44.666284,-
63.651786&spn=0.001881,0.004066&sll=37.0625,-
95.677068&sspn=34.313287,66.621094&hnear=Halifax,+Nova+Scot
ia+B3M+3S7,+Canada&t=h&z=18

6. Accountability/Service Delivery
 Key benefit: good decisions and ownership
 Examples
 F35s
 South Africa: housing

7. Corruption
 Most high-profile benefit
 Examples from India:
 Bribery vs. RTI
 MKSS

8. Economic Benefits
 Stability
 Competitiveness
 Direct value of information (open data)

9. Getting to There
 Political will
 Different players:
 Government
 Civil society
 Business
 Public
 International community
 Actual drafting

10. Law Just a Start: Implementation
 Institutional structure
 Public authorities
 Information officers
 Oversight body
 Courts
 Central nodal body
 Key tasks
 Capacity building
 Systems: reactive, proactive, record management, reporting
 Public awareness

11. Conclusion
The current developments in the MENA region
are very exciting
It is my great honour to be involved in them
Toby@law-democracy.org
www.law-democracy.org