A call for IGO policies on public access to information |
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| Institution: | 1. ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France;2. School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA;3. Institut de Biologie de l’École normale supérieure, Mathematical Ecology and Evolution team, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;4. ESPCI Paris, Laboratoire de Génétique de l’Évolution, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;1. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, USA;2. Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, USA;1. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Lucile Packard Children?s Hospital Stanford, 777 Welch Road, Suite J, Stanford, California 94305;2. Biodesign Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California;3. Department of Surgery, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri;1. Department of Accounting, Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 535 Fahua Zhen Rd., Shanghai 200052, PR China;2. School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Hullbert Hall 105G, Pullman, WA 99164-6210, USA |
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| Abstract: | There is much discussion in research literature regarding the information produced by inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) and what publications are available for use in libraries. At the same time, there is little discussion of the information policies of IGOs regarding access to IGO information. In fact, the freedom of information debate, with few exceptions, has not been extended to include IGOs. Although IGOs are made up of governmental bodies, the role of the IGO seems to be that of facilitator for state policy formation. This role fails to recognize that IGOs produce information of their own accord and make decisions which affect peoples in the member states. This article surveys the issue of access to IGO information and discusses how national debates can be extended to the IGO level. It shows both explicit and implicit information policies with case studies from the environmental information field: the European Union's (EU) directive on environmental information, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Three issues emerge: these are varying levels of access to IGO information, varying levels of IGO information policy, and a relative paucity of research on the subject. The principles of accountability, transparency, and public involvement are being made explicit more frequently in the documents of IGOs. However, a continuing gap between explicit and implicit policies must be bridged. |
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