Centre for Law and Democracy

The Centre for Law and Democracy (commonly known as CLD) is a Canadian-based non-governmental organisation that works internationally to promote fundamental rights for democracy, with an emphasis on freedom of expression, freedom of association, the right to information and Digital rights.[1]

Projects

The Global Right to Information Rating

CLD is best known for publishing the Global Right to Information Rating, a comparative analysis of right to information laws around the world, which it developed in collaboration with Access Info Europe, along with a network of global transparency experts. The rating provides a reliable tool for advocates, critics, legislators and journalists to measure their country's right to information laws against their neighbours, and against international standards. Its rankings have been cited widely in international media.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

The RTI Rating assesses legislation based on 61 indicators of a strong right to information law, and is divided into seven categories: Right of Access, Scope, Requesting Procedures, Exceptions and Refusals, Appeals, Sanctions and Protection and Promotional Measures. Currently, the top countries in the Rating are Serbia, India and Slovenia, while the worst countries are Austria, Liechtenstein and Tajikistan.

Myanmar's Democratic Transition

CLD has been prominently engaged in supporting Myanmar's democratic transition, including by helping to found the Myanmar Media Lawyers' Network, and through direct engagement with the government, political parties and civil society to promote understanding of human rights. In 2015, CLD, alongside David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Myanmar's Information Minister U Ye Htut, appeared at the International Press Institute's 2015 World Congress and General Assembly to advise on the importance of expanding free expression rights in the country.[10]

Newfoundland and Labrador's Legislative Reform

CLD has been prominently involved in processes to improve right to information recommendations on improving Newfoundland and Labrador's right to information legislation. This began in 2012 with the controversial adoption of Bill 29, an act which substantially weakened transparency in the province.[11][12] CLD was highly critical of the moves, which led then-Attorney General Felix Collins to refer to them as an “cheap, amateurish” “two-bit outfit” on the floor of the House of Assembly. In response, CLD noted that they had worked in many difficult environments, including Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Somalia, but that this was the first time their integrity and professionalism had been attacked by a political leader.[13] Two years later, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador backed down from the Bill 29 changes and initiated a review process, in which CLD was a prominent participant, and which resulted in strong improvements to the provincial right to information legislation.[14]

Human Rights in Indonesia

CLD has been actively involved in advocating for the strengthening of right to information laws in Indonesia. CLD's work here has included intervening as an amicus curiae at the Indonesian Constitutional Court,[15] and publishing a report detailing barriers to implementation of Indonesia's access to information legislation cited by the University College of London’s Constitution Unit.[16]

CLD also participated in an International Partnership Mission to Indonesia with the aim of protecting media institutions by strengthening press freedoms and freedom of expression legislation.[17] Following consultations with high-level government stakeholders, civil society, and the media, the mission ultimately identified several important areas for improvement including impunity for violent acts committed against journalists, monopolist ownership of media outlets, harsh criminal sanctions for certain types of online speech, and restrictions on physical access to certain sensitive regions of the country.[18]

  1. Centre for Law and Democracy
  2. Right to Information Rating

References
  1. "What we Do". Centre for Law and Democracy. 2015.
  2. "Paraguay is 100th nation to pass FOI law, but struggle for openness goes on". The Guardian. 19 September 2014.
  3. Cuillier, David (16 March 2015). "Sunshine Week Shines Light on Lack of Freedom: Column". USA Today.
  4. Hedgecoe, Guy. "Spain sets up transparency website to help curb corruption". Irish Times.
  5. Woods, Michael (29 September 2011). "Canada mediocre in access to information rankings". Toronto Star.
  6. Hedgecoe, Guy. "Spain sets up transparency website to help curb corruption". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  7. "Access watchdog wants power to order release of documents". CBC News. 6 July 2013.
  8. Dey, Anindo (12 October 2013). "India second among 95 countries in RTI ratings". The Times of India.
  9. Chiusi, Fabio (30 April 2014). "A che punto è il diritto di accesso all'informazione in Italia". Wired.it.
  10. "Free Expression Watchdog Shares Thoughts on Myanmar". Mizzima. 20 February 2015.
  11. "Newfoundland: Amendments Would Significantly Weaken Openness". Centre for Law and Democracy. 10 June 2012.
  12. admin (2012-06-10). "Newfoundland: Amendments Would Significantly Weaken Openness". Centre for Law and Democracy. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  13. "Re: Minister Collins' Comments about the Centre for Law and Democracy" (PDF).
  14. "New access to information changes to make N.L. a world leader: advocate". CBC News. 27 April 2015.
  15. "WRITTEN COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY THE CENTRE FOR LAW AND DEMOCRACY" (PDF). January 2015.
  16. "Indonesia: International Focus". UCL Constitutional Unit: School of Public Policy. 1 May 2012.
  17. Erviani, Ni Komang (19 December 2014). "Press freedom remains under threat". The Jakarta Post.
  18. "International Partnership Mission to India". TIFA Mempromosikan Masyarakat Terbuka. 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
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