[open-government] OGP Networking Mechanism Webinar: Proactive Transparency

Mon Feb 4 21:58:50 UTC 2013

For those who have not seen this before and might be interested participating.

All best
Daniel

Open Government Networking Mechanism Webinar on Proactive Transparency

Tuesday, February 19, 2013
10:00 - 11:00 AM EST | 4:00 - 5:00 PM Spain| 3:00 - 4:00 PM UK (15:00 GMT)

REGISTER for this webinar HERE 

Click HERE to join the Webinar 5 minutes before the scheduled start time

Presenters
Helen Darbishire (Executive Director, Access Info Europe)

Kevin Dunion (Executive Director, Center for Freedom of Information, University of Dundee)

Sponsored by OGP Networking Mechanism (Global Integrity) and World Bank Institute

Abstract: 

1.	Does the right of access to information imply that governments must publish information without an access to information request? 
2.	Which information should be prioritized? What types of information are becoming emerging international standards as part of government obligations to publish proactive information?
3.	What is the relationship between “open data” and proactively published information? 
4.	What are good practices from different countries around the world? 
5.	What should the proactive publication priorities be for countries which are members of the Open Government Partnership?

These are some of the key questions about proactive publication of information which will be discussed during this webinar led by Helen Darbishire of Access Info Europe, and Kevin Dunion of the Centre for Freedom of Information at the University of Dundee.

Helen Darbishire will review recent developments concerning the right of access to information and will summarize the global trends with respect to proactive publication with a focus on the classes of information which are being published and/or which access to information and other laws require to be made public.

In addition, she will review recent developments in the world of open data and evaluate how this relates to the right of access to information. Is there something which can be qualified as a “right to data” or is this an inherent part of the right of access to information?

Finally she will discuss advocacy strategies that can be pursued by civil society to promote greater proactive publication and how to structure dialogue with governments over how to prioritize information due for release.

Country Experience- Scottish Model Publication Scheme, by Kevin Dunion

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires Scottish public authorities to proactively publish information. In particular, each authority must produce a Publication Scheme which has been approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner. In the first few years this meant hundreds of schemes, of variable quality, being submitted.

Kevin Dunion will present this case study that shows that the Information Commissioner resolved matters by producing a single Model Publication Scheme, which could be adopted by any authority. The Model Scheme describes classes of information which should be disclosed, providing a high degree of proactive openness and making it easy for authorities to comply with the law. An example of how this can be used to recover routinely available information from a public authority, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, will be presented.
http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/ScottishPublicAuthorities/PublicationSchemes/PublicationSchemesModelPublicationSchemes.asp
Bio for Helen Darbishire

Helen Darbishire is a human rights activist specializing in the public's right of access to information (freedom of information), and the development of open and democratic societies with participatory and accountable governments. Helen is founder and Executive Director of the Madrid-based NGO Access Info Europe, established in 2006 to promote the right of access to information in Europe and globally. Helen has worked for over 20 years as a human rights professional, focusing on issues of freedom of expression and information, media freedom, civil society development, and democratization. 
Prior to setting up Access Info Europe, Helen worked as a campaigner and project manager at Article 19 based in London and Paris, and for the Open Society Institute where she directed programs on freedom of expression and freedom of information, based in Budapest and New York. Helen has provided expertise to a wide range of non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations, including UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and the World Bank. She is a founder of the global Freedom of Information Advocates Network and served two terms as its chair. She holds a degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Psychology from Durham University, UK. 

Bio for Professor Kevin Dunion

Kevin Dunion is Honorary Professor and Executive Director of the Centre for Freedom of Information at the School of Law, University of Dundee, which has been established as a research and resource centre for Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen as well as those who wish to engage with current appellate and enforcement practice. He is also Visiting Professor at Northumbria University, England.Prior to this Kevin Dunion was the first Scottish Information Commissioner, serving two terms (2003-2012) and  issuing over 1500 formal decision on appeals arising under the Freedom of Information (Scotland ) Act. 

He is author of the textbook “Freedom of Information in Scotland in Practice” as well as a number of books and articles on environmental justice, as well as access to information. 

As an international consultant on implementing and enforcing access to information rights, Kevin Dunion has worked on behalf of international agencies and NGOs in Africa, the Caribbean, China, and India. Most recently he has completed a 6 month project, funded by UNESCO, advising the Federal Ombudsman – Comptroller General’s Office of the Brazilian Government. He has also recently been appointed by the Board of Directors of The World Bank to be a member of the Bank’s Access to Information Appeals Board.

To JOIN the session on February 19, 2013 at 10:00 AM EST, please use this link to login 5 minutes before the Webinar is scheduled to start: http://worldbankva.adobeconnect.com/ogpweb/ 

--
Daniel Dietrich
Open Data evangelist; Open Knowledge Foundation
Promoting Open Knowledge in a Digital Age
www.okfn.org - www.opendefinition.org

www.ddie.me
twitter.com/ddie
+49 176 327 685 30
+49 30 57703666 0

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