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4 June

14.30 – 15.30

The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents – the first baseline evaluation

In 2009, the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (CETS No.205), also known as the Tromsø Convention, become the first binding international legal instrument to recognise a general stand-alone right to access State-held information. The Tromsø Convention entered into force in December 2020, following its ratification by a tenth State Party; it now has 15 Parties.

The workshop will raise awareness of the standards of the Tromsø Convention and will present the baseline evaluation of the Council of Europe Access Info Group of the first 11 Parties to the Convention: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Lithuania, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Sweden, and Ukraine. It will also explore synergies and stimulate reflections on possible collaboration between the Council of Europe Access Info Group and Information Commissioners.

The Group is composed of independent and impartial experts and is primarily responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention by its Parties.

Organized by the Council of Europe

Venue: (The Plaza “Queen Geraldine” room, 3rd floor)

Speakers:

Moderator: Elvana Thaçi,
Secretary to the Tromsø Convention treaty bodies.

Tetyana Oleksiyuk
Vice-President of the Council of Europe Access Info Group.

Ulrich Kelber Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information for Germany.
Professor. dr.jur Emeritus Inge Lorange Backe Department of Public and International Law, Oslo University; Member of the Council of Europe Access Info Group.
Dr. Þórdís Ingadóttir, Professor at the Faculty of Law, Reykjavik University; Member of the Council of Europe Access Info Group.

14.30 – 15.30

How to Assess the Implementation of ATI Laws

Want to undertake a deep assessment of how well your access to information law is being implemented? This workshop profiles a leading methodology for this developed by the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD).

CLD’s Right to Information Implementation Assessment: Comprehensive Methodology is designed to be applied by independent ATI oversight bodies (information commissions). It provides an in-depth assessment of areas of strength and weakness in terms of implementing ATI laws, and thus generates a roadmap for future efforts to improve ATI performance by all relevant actors, including oversight bodies, information officers, civil society and others.

This workshop will provide an overview of the Methodology, along with perspectives on the methodology from existing and former representatives of oversight bodies which have or are in the process of applying the methodology. It will also provide information about how to explore options to collaborate with CLD so as to apply it in your country.

Organized by Centre for Law and Democracy

Venue: The Plaza, Standard room, 1 st floor

14.30 – 16.00

Accountability, Service Delivery, and Inclusivity: Exploring the Role of Information Commissioners

The World Bank and The Carter Center

In an increasingly complex world, the right of access to information is even more essential for advancing
democratic institutions and goals. Information can enhance public accountability, improve service delivery, and support public participation and inclusivity, and mitigate corruption, but it is often challenged or disregarded.

This session will reflect on the potential role that Information Commissions/ers can play in linking the right to information to these democratic principles, identifying the challenges you face, and considering
how multi-lateral and international institutions can support further engagement.

The Carter Center, through its gender-sensitive access to information programming and the World Bank,
through its Global Platform for Anti-Corruption for Development, will share how they are generating
collaborative schemes to address these issues in coordinated and inclusive ways. Additionally, we will
hear from several Information Commissions that have successfully supported the right of access to
information for improved accountability, service delivery, and inclusivity, and through small group
activities and an open discussion we will explore how this fits within the mandates of Information
Commissions and how others may achieve similarly impacts.

Please join us for this interactive and action-oriented discussion.

Organized by Carter Centre and World Bank

Venue: The Plaza, “Dora D’Istria” room, 1 st floor

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