[afro-nets] The Right to Access Information - Burkina Faso

[The Southern Health & Ecology Institute <shae@worldonline.co.za>]

The Right to Access Information - an Essential Human Right
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Burkina Faso

By Carolyn Norris

The report explores the right to freedom of information, and
specifically the right to access information held by public au-
thorities in Burkina Faso. It looks at existing legal and other
obstacles to free access to information. It looks into recent
human rights violations where "official reluctance to provide
information has prevented those responsible from being held ac-
countable, and has denied the victims' relatives the right to
truth."

Topics discussed

* Obstacles to the right to access information
* The right to access information
* Allegations of trafficking arms and diamonds

This report states that there is a "culture of secrecy" that re-
mains prevalent within the government, therefore members of the
public, including the media, are routinely denied access to of-
ficial information that they are entitled to receive in a democ-
racy. Recommendations by ARTICLE 19 are included in the report
stating goals of good governance are effective.

Publisher: ARTICLE 19
Date of publication: April 2002
Number of pages: 38

Contact:
ARTICLE 19
1st floor, Braamfontein Centre
23 Jorissen Street
Braamfontein 2017
South Africa
Tel: +44-20-7278
Fax: +44-20-7713 1356
mailto:info@article19.org.za

ARTICLE 19 Website:
http://www.article19.org