Article 19 et al.: Global Trends on the Right to Information: A Survey of South Asia (2001)
Despite global recognition of the importance of access to information for accountability, good governance, human rights and democracy, no South Asian state currently has a national freedom of information law. Change is, however, now underway. This survey looks at significant access developments at international level and contains an in-depth analysis of the situation in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It concludes with a set of recommendations to governments, civil society, the private sector and the international community.

Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey: The Right to Information: Facilitating People’s Participation and State Accountability (2001)
This paper describes the work of an Indian grassroots civil society organisation campaigning for access to information and greater accountability of local government officials in Rajasthan. It underlines the link between participatory democracy and access to information, showing that transparency and freedom of information are crucial in ensuring good governance.

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative: Open Sesame: Looking for the Right to Information in the Commonwealth (2003)
Executive summary.
This report advocates the immediate adoption and full implementation of access to information recommendations. It reviews the present status of legislation in the Commonwealth and formulates a set of minimum standards for maximum disclosure, including recommendations for states and civil society alike. An extensive bibliography is included.

David Banisar, Freedom of Information and Access to Government Record Laws Around the World (2004)
This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the state of freedom of information worldwide. It contains a status report on access laws for every country, as well as a number of links and references for further information.

Inter-American Dialogue: Access to Information in the Americas (2002)
This report summarises the proceedings of a 2002 conference bringing together experts on the issue of access to information in the Americas. The report takes stock of the regional situation with regard to access to information, presenting an up-to-date portrait of access across the region. Reference documents produced by experienced regional academics and practitioners are also included.

TI Corruption Fighters’ Tool Kit (2002)
The TI Tool Kit presents a large number of innovative anti-corruption tools developed and implemented by TI National Chapters in the area of access to information. Each tool is introduced by a fact sheet and described in detail.
[also available in Spanish]

Toby Mendel: Freedom of Information: a Comparative Legal Survey (2003)
This book describes international standards established in the access to information area and illustrates some of the key features of effective freedom of information legislation. Importantly, it provides examples of the way in which ten countries and two international organisations have dealt with access to information issues.

ARTICLE 19: Model Freedom of Information Law
This model freedom of information law is based on best international practice as well as on a number of freedom of information laws from around the world. It is intended to respond particularly to the freedom of information needs of South Asian countries and, as such, reflects a common law drafting style. As it reflects international standards, however, it is also relevant to civil law countries.

ARTICLE 19: The Public’s Right to Know. Principles on Freedom of Information Legislation
English version
These international principles set a standard against which to measure whether domestic laws genuinely permit access to official information. The principles set out clearly and precisely the ways in which governments can achieve maximum openness in line with best international standards and practice.

Bank Information Center (BIC), Toolkit for Activists
This toolkit is designed to help clarify which documents are available from the World Bank, when they are available, and how to get them. It details what information is regularly published, but also provides details about what information is typically not made public and how to request it. The toolkit’s objective is to promote citizens’ right to know with regard to community development plans. It is available in English and Spanish.

Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles
The Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles recognise the importance of public access to official information, both in promoting transparency and accountable governance and in encouraging the full participation of citizens in the democratic process.

Commonwealth Model Freedom of Information Bill
The object of a law on freedom of information is to safeguard the right of members of the public to access information held by public authorities with the aim of increasing transparency and accountability of government. To assist member countries which have yet to enact laws providing for access to information, the Commonwealth Secretariat has prepared a draft model bill, drawing on the laws in existence in various member countries and reflecting the principles the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Principles.

European Union Regulation on the Right of Access to Information
An Annex to the 1992 EU Treaty of Maastricht recommended that the European Commission draft a report on measures designed to improve public access to the information available to EU institutions. The 1997 Amsterdam Treaty moved a significant step further by granting the right of access to EU documents subject to detailed rules set out in secondary EC legislation. According to Article 255 of the Amsterdam Treaty, this secondary legislation was to be adopted within two years of the Treaty entering into force.

Inter-American Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression
Adopted in the year 2000, this declaration explicitly recognises the right to access information and affirms that this principle should be subject only to exceptional limitations that are established by law.

Organisation of American States (OAS) , Resolution on Access to Public Information: Strengthening Democracy
This resolution was adopted at the fourth plenary session of the OAS in June 2003. The OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression subsequently produced two reports that seek to operationalise the resolution. The “First Report on Access to Information” was presented to the OAS Permanent Council on 10 September and the “Second Report on Access to Information” on 17 December 2003.

The Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (1995)
These principles aim at the implementation by national, regional and international bodies of standards relating to freedom of expression and access to information. They are based on regional and international standards relating to the protection of human rights, as well as evolving state practice. The principles were adopted in 1995 by a group of experts in international law, national security and human rights convened by ARTICLE 19 and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies of the University of Witwatersand.