FOI a milestone for Pacific Plan implementation
PRESS STATEMENT (52/08)
30th June 2008 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) A MILESTONE FOR PACIFIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION Freedom of Information is recognised in the Pacific Plan as a key mechanism for enhancing good governance. The Forum Secretariat’s Regional Governance Adviser, Dr Henry Ivarature said this in an address on the topic of Pacific Plan, Regionalism, Democratic Government and FOI at the FOI Training Workshop for Pacific Policy Makers which opened in Honiara, Solomon Islands today. “Bringing freedom of information legislation to Forum member countries is a long-term commitment with positive implications for many governments with poor record keeping systems, limited official websites or disclosure systems. In this respect, sensitivity must be shown for each country’s particular situation, to work progressively on an appropriate time frame for the changes to be introduced,” says Dr Ivarature. “However this does not mean that we wait until all the basics are fixed. You cannot wait for an ideal situation for FOI legislation to be introduced. In many respects, introducing freedom of information legislation helps to strengthen these areas which are lacking.” The Forum Secretariat is still at an early stage of its thinking about FOI legislation and the “right to know” among Forum members. “While the initiative is fairly open, it does provide the Secretariat with a mandate to explore and support Forum Member Countries working on freedom of information in the region.” Apart from Australia and New Zealand, Cook Islands is the first Forum member country to adopt FOI legislation. The law was passed in February 2008 and will come into force in 2009. The three-day workshop organized by the Forum Secretariat with support from the UNDP Pacific Centre is attended by senior policy makers from 10 Forum Island countries. [Ends] For more information, contact, Dr Henry Ivarature, the Forum’s Regional Governance Adviser on phone 677 20071 or email:henryi@forumsec.org.fj or Ms Charmaine Rodrigues, UNDP Pacific Centre’s Legislative Strengthening Expert on 679 330 0399 or email:Charmaine.rodrigues@undp.org or Shobhna Decloitre, UNDP Pacific Centre’s Media, Communications and Advocacy Associate on 679 3300399 or email: Shobhna.decloitre@undp.org or Johnson Honimae, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Media Officer on 677 81659, 677 20071 or email: johnsonh@forumsec.org.fj The Pacific Islands Forum, formerly the South Pacific Forum until a name change in October 2000, was founded in August 1971 and comprises 16 independent and self-governing states in the Pacific. The Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation, and plays a lead role in facilitating the implementation of the Pacific Plan. The Forum’s administrative arm is the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, based in Suva, Fiji. It acts as the Secretariat for Forum-related events, implements decisions by the Leaders, facilitates the delivery of development assistance to member states, and undertakes the political and legal mandates of Forum meetings. UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. The Pacific Centre, UNDP’s knowledge and regional programme centre in Suva, Fiji is focused on Small Islands Developing States in the Pacific and serves 15 Pacific Island countries. The Centre aims to boost aid efficiency in the Pacific by providing policy advice and technical back stopping in the areas of Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Democratic Governance and Poverty Alleviation and Millennium Development Goals Achievement. |
2008