The public’s right to access information about such decisions is vital.  As a global community, we recognise that resources may be diverted away from usual information rights work. Public organisations will rightly focus their resources on protecting public health, and we recognise our role in taking a pragmatic approach, for example around how quickly public bodies respond to requests.

But the importance of the right to access information remains. Public bodies must also recognise the value of clear and transparent communication, and of good record-keeping, in what will be a much analysed period of history.

As an international network, the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) supports a flexible approach that takes into account the compelling public interest in the current health emergency, while safeguarding the values of the right to access information. We ask governments to support this vision.

We add our support and gratitude to those who are dedicated to tackling the current pandemic.

The signatories:

ICIC Members

• Alberta (Canada) – Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
• Argentina – Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública
• Australia – Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
• Bermuda – Information Commissioner’s Office
• Brazil – Controladoria-Geral da União (CGU)
• Buenos Aires (Argentina) – Órgano Garante del Derecho de Acceso a la Información
• Catalonia (Spain) – Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya
• Cayman Islands – Ombudsman
• Chile – Consejo para la Transparencia
• Coahuila (Mexico) – Instituto Coahuilense de Acceso a la Informacion Publica
• Germany – Der Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit
• Gibraltar – Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
• Guatemala – Procuraduría de los Derechos Humanos de Guatemala
• Hungary – Nemzeti Adatvédelmi és Információszabadság Hatóság (NAIH)
• Isle of Man – Information Commissioner
• Israel – Freedom of Information Unit – היחידה הממשלתית לחופש המידע
• Kenya – Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman)
• Mexico – Instituto Nacional de Transparencia, Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales (INAI)
• Nepal – National Information Commission
• Nova Scotia (Canada) – Information and Privacy Commissioner for Nova Scotia
• Peru – Autoridad Nacional de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública de Perú
• Punjab (Pakistan) – Punjab Information Commission
• The Philippines – Freedom of Information – Project Management Office
• Scotland – Scottish Information Commissioner
• Serbia – Poverenik za informacije od javnog značaja i zaštitu podataka o ličnosti
• Sierra Leone – Right to Access Information Commission
• South Africa – Information Regulator (South Africa)
• Spain – Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno
• Switzerland – Préposé fédéral à la protection des données et à la transparence (PFPDT)
• Tunisia – Instance Nationale d’Acces a l’Information
• United Kingdom – Information Commissioner’s Office
• United States – Office of Government Information Services – National Archives and Records Administration
• Western Australia – Office of the Information Commissioner

Non-ICIC members

• Andalusia (Spain) – Consejo de Transparencia y Protection de Datos de Andalucia
• Croatia – Povjerenik za Informiranje
• Ireland – Office of the Ombudsman
• Morocco – Commission du Droit d’Accès à l’Information
• Murcia (Spain) – Consejo de la Transparencia
• Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany) – Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit – Rheinland-Pfalz
• South Australian Ombudsman
• Yukon (Canada) – Information and Privacy Commissioner