23 March 2010

Joint action

Over 70 organisations and experts worldwide urge Congress to approve access to information bill

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - 18 March 2010 - Over 30 Brazilian organisations and more than 40 international organisations and experts have sent letters to the President of the Brazilian House of Representatives, Congressman Michel Temer, urging him and his fellow representatives to review and adopt the Access to Information Bill in a timely manner.

The letters, signed by civil society organisations and experts from over 30 different countries, welcome the efforts of the Congress to enact the law and urge them to do so in the current session.

The letters also implore Brazilian legislators to amend the Bill to ensure that it meets international human rights standards and international best practices on access to information. They note, in particular, that the draft still does not provide for an independent oversight body.

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the support of these organisations for the adoption of strong legislation on the right to information in Brazil. We call on members of Congress to ensure respect for Brazil's international human rights obligations in relation to the right to information, and to make a serious effort to ensure that the Right to Information Bill is approved by both houses of Congress during 2010. Following the receipt of the letter, the Congress agreed to include the RTI bill in its voting agenda for the next two weeks.

Click here to read the letter from international organisations and experts