The right to information is a fundamental human right which is critical to the realization of other rights as well as to the attainment of an effective democracy. More than 80 countries around the world have a law which guarantees the public’s right to information and ensures access to government records. While, campaigns to support the adoption of new laws are crucial in countries where they are not already in place, the failure to implement existing laws could undermine the strength of this emerging global movement. Many countries have taken the first step of adopting right-to-information (RTI) laws without then investing in the capacities and resources needed to implement them.
The Open Society Right to Information Fund offers support to civil society groups which are working to promote the full implementation of RTI laws. The fund supports initiatives which build awareness about the utility of RTI laws, expand the community of users of these laws, and educate groups on obtaining information through RTI laws that can be used to further policy goals. Support is also given to efforts which ensure a broad range of civil society actors from a variety of fields have a stake in the implementation of these laws.
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