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One of the world's most powerful international financial institutions is violating international standards on freedom of information. The World Bank's review of its own information disclosure policy singularly fails to guarantee the public's right to know and allows individual countries the right to veto disclosure of information. ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression, demands that the institution substantially revise its proposals.

19 February 2001 - For immediate release

One of the world's most powerful international
financial institutions is violating international
standards on freedom of information. The World Bank's
review of its own information disclosure policy
singularly fails to guarantee the public's right to
know1 and allows individual countries the right to
veto disclosure of information. ARTICLE 19, the Global
Campaign for Free Expression, demands that the
institution substantially revise its proposals.

In a letter submitted to the World Bank's consultation
process, ARTICLE 19 welcomes the Bank's review of its
1993 policy on information disclosure, and the
proposal to disclose more documents to the public.
However, the bid for reform falls short in several key
areas, including the lack of an independent appeals
process; no clear timelines on decision-making; no
necessity for written explanations for a refusal; no
harm tests or public interest tests; no protection for
whistleblowers.

Toby Mendel, Head of ARTICLE 19's Law Programme said:

"The World Bank needs to go much further if it wants
to improve its policy on transparency. The Bank is
being excessively secretive and giving too much power
to individual countries by allowing their governments
to dictate whether a document should be released. This
is information which affects millions of people and
they have a fundamental right to access it."

ARTICLE 19 urges that the World Bank revise its policy
in order to:

Establish an independent body to review refusals by
the Bank to disclose information;

Include strict timelines for the disclosure of
information and a requirement that any refusals be
accompanied with substantive written reasons;

Require that all exceptions are subject to substantial
harm and public interest tests;

Provide protection for whistleblowers;

Review its policy to allow individual countries to
veto information disclosure.

ENDS

For further information contact Ken Bhattarcharjee at
ARTICLE 19 on + 44 20 7278 9292, [email protected].

Notes for Editors:

1.See The Public's Right to Know: Principles on
Freedom of Information Legislation, ARTICLE 19, 1999.

2.The consultation process continues until 31 March
2001. Full information on the World Bank's review of
its Policy on Information Disclosure can be found
at:http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/disclosure/

Source:
http://www.article19.org/docimages/945.htm

ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression

Named after Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, we work worldwide to combat censorship
by promoting freedom of expression and access to
official information.

With partners in over 30 countries, we work to
strengthen local capacity to monitor and protest
institutional and informal censorship.

We monitor, research, publish, lobby, campaign and
litigate on behalf of freedom of expression wherever
it is threatened. We develop standards to advance
media freedom, assist individuals to speak out and
campaign for the free flow of information.

ARTICLE 19 is registered as a charity in the UK
(No.327421).

Visit Article 19:
http://www.article19.org/