Gautam Buddha University

Greater Noida, U.P., India

School of Law, Justice & Governance

Subject: Right to Information & public accountability

Course: BALLB Semester: VII

Topic: Evolution of Right to Information (International Perspective)

Submitted By:
Archana Yadav
18/ILB/055
Section-B

Submitted To:
Ms. Kajal Gupta
Faculty, RTI
Acknowledgement

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definitions
3. Historical Development
4. Table of Emergence (Dates & Countries)
5. Include a bit Indian Context
6. Conclusion

Introduction

The term ‘Information’ has been derived from the latin term ‘forma’ that means the ideas or input that
gives clarity to mind. Whenever one gets an information, a vague idea gets concretized. Information
bring

Right to information and public accountability

International Aspect of Right to Information.

 First Country to adopt the RTI was SWEDEN – 1766

 Then, several other countries adopted RTI as
 Finland (1951)
 United States (1966)
 Norway (1970)
 France & Netherlands (1978)
 Australia and New Zealand (1982)
 Canada (1983)
 European Union (1990’s) etc.

 In 2000, Charters started being discussed which included Right to Information.

 In the 21st century, UN started promoting RTI in other countries in order to ensure transparency.

 UN General Assembly Resolution, 1946:

In this resolution it was stated that Freedom of Information is a fundamental and human right
and it should be incorporated in the fundament rights itself. As the freedom implies right to
gather, transit and publish the news everywhere without filters. They supported RTI as it gives
privileges to employees and citizens without corruption.
 Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948:
Highlighted and declared that Each person is entitled for the right to freedom of view and
expression and this right is itself included in the Freedom of Speech and expression. Thus, they
said, No separate article is required for RTI.
Freedom of speech gives you freedom to speak and express yourself fully and freely.
Similarly, RTI is implicitly given in the Freedom of speech and expression which says that
Freedom to hold any opinion without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media regardless of frontier.

 European Convention on Human Rights in 1950:

Said, Everybody has the right to freewill of expression and shall include freedom to hold
opinions to receive or impart information and ideas without any interference of public
authority. I.e. whoever asks for whatever information, he shall receive that. They have right to
seek information.

 Convention on the International Right to Correction, 1962:

It was included in the preamble of this convention that the intention to implement the right of
people to be fully informed with reliable information and to improve the understanding and free
flow of opinion.

 The international Covenant on Civil and political rights, 1966:

It implies that everybody shall have the right to hold opinions without interference of anyone as
well as freedom of expression that includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart
information ideas of all kinds regardless of frontiers in any manner orally or written or print or
any form of through any other media of his option.

 The American Convention of Human Rights, 1969:

Everybody shall have the right to freedom of thought and expression that include to freedom to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.

 The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, 1976:

This time they set some limitations to the right they declared in 1966. That said, “Everybody
shall have the right to freedom of thought and expression that include to freedom to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds.
They added,” The exercise of the rights provided for in para 2 of this article carries with special
duties and responsibilities.”

 African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, 1981:

They Implied the Right to Information:
Every individual shall have the right to:
1. Receive information
2. To express and circulate his opinion within the structure of law.
(No other charter used this phrase/condition yet.)
 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989:
(To be continued…)