Access to Public Information

What aspects does this right embrace?

In order to effectively administer and guarantee the Right to Access Information, the following governmental services and resources are required:

• An institutional system
• A financial system
• An educational system

• An Institutional System
  In general, the State carries out an information program for the public from "Information offices" in each of the districts with environmental jurisdiction. These offices are in charge of court records, and in offering free access to the same records at the request of the public.
  Information offices of environmental bodies must allow all citizens access to the record files.
  A system of public access to environmental information may mean the possibility of obtaining, among others, the following:
  • Authorization forms related to the building or expansion of factory plants, public buildings, railways, highways, dams, use of land plan exceptions, etc.
  • State reports and expert testimonies;
  • Independent technicians´ opinions;
  • Opinions about public claims;
  • Internal memos and decisions;
  • Other public body opinions;
  • Correspondence;
  • Meeting minutes;
  • Any documents financed by the State.
  
  
• A Financial System
  A regime with free access to environmental information requires two types of financing:
  
  • Financial resources allocated from government departments with environmental jurisdiction; and
  • Administrative fees collected from users. Generally, users pay for things like photocopying.
  
  
• An Educational System
  Educational resources for both staff and users facilitate the Access to Information process. Administrative staff are trained on the philosophy and modus operandi of the information offices; and Practical Guides to Access Environmental Information (Manuales Prácticos del Ciudadano para el Acceso a la Información Ambiental) are useful to the ordinary citizen. These manuals allow everyone to understand how the system functions, the operative and computerized way to use the information centre, and the administrative fees and the cost of the photocopies.
  Mass media can also play an important educational role. Therefore it is crucial for them to be able to access public information easily and in a timely manner.

 

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