The Centre for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, held a public consultation on the Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information in Africa on 29 April 2011, during the 49th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul, The Gambia.

The aim of the consultation was to introduce the Draft Model Law, developed pursuant to Resolution 167 (XLVIII) 2010 of the ACHPR, authorising the Special Rapporteur to initiate the process of developing a model access to information legislation for Africa.

he feedback received from this consultation, together with those received at further subregional public consultations, will guide and inform any necessary amendments to the present draft.

Once finalised, it is expected that the Model Law will be adopted by the ACHPR at its 50th Ordinary Session in October 2011, to guide Member States in their adoption or review of access to information laws, and provide uniform benchmarks for evaluating their effective implementation.

Financial support for the project is provided by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and Open Society Foundations, Rights Initiatives - Right to Information Fund.

Draft Model Law for AU Member States on Access to Information in Africa

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