Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Access to public information in Europe
open-in-new
<p>Access to public information and <a href="/facts/Freedom_of_information/pvfAVnFl">freedom of information</a> (FOI) refer to the right to access information held by public bodies also known as "<a href="/facts/Right_to_know/nmTSt8rX">right to know</a>". Access to public information is considered of fundamental importance for the effective functioning of democratic systems, as it enhances governments' and public officials' <a href="/facts/Accountability/xDj2QSsS">accountability</a>, boosting people's participation and allowing their informed participation into public life. The fundamental premise of the right to access public information is that the information held by governmental institutions is in principle public and may be concealed only on the basis of legitimate reasons which should be detailed in the law. Access to public information builds on the principle that in a democratic system people should be in the condition of accessing a wide range of information in order to effectively participate in public life as well as on matters affecting them. </p><p>The right of access to public information is a component of the <a href="/facts/Fundamental_right/VwhDNd5X">fundamental right</a> of <a href="/facts/Freedom_of_speech/jYakwGMP">freedom of expression</a> set forth by Article 19 of the <a href="/facts/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights/8hsauJsB">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a> (1948) which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom "to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers". Access to public information and freedom of information are recognised as human rights in the three main regional systems of human rights, namely within the Americas, Europe and Africa, as well as in major international instruments. </p><p>The right to access information places two obligations on public bodies. First, the proactive duty to make public key information on the activities of authorities and governments; second, the reactive obligation to respond to people's requests for information, either by releasing public original documents or copies of the documents held. </p><p>Over the past 10 years, the right to information and access to public information has been recognised in an increasing number of countries and several <a href="/facts/Freedom_of_information_laws_by_country/hatxKRs3">FOI laws</a> have been adopted all over the world, including in the developing countries. If in 1990 only 13 countries had a national freedom of information law, today there are 100 such laws across the world. </p><p>In 2015, The <a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a> General Conference voted to designate Sept. 28 as "International Day for the Universal Access to Information" or, as it is more commonly known, <a href="/facts/Access_to_Information_Day/CVcn0zm1">Access to Information Day</a>. The date had previously been celebrated as "Right to Know Day" since 2002. The UNESCO resolution recommends approval by the <a href="/facts/UN_General_Assembly/pNDmCu8X">UN General Assembly</a>. </p>