Freedom of Information: Training Manual for Public Officials
London: Article 19 (2004), 92, 22 pp.
ISBN 1-902598-64-4
"This manual for public officials is designed as a resource for officials who want to adopt administrative practices that conform to the best standards of freedom of information. It should help them to make their work and procedures more professional, which will increase the public’s trust in and appreciation of their administration. This manual can be used in three basic ways: used as a teaching guide for trainers running courses for public officials responsible for handling information requests; used as a learning tool by such officials – in other words they can work through the manual on their own; used as a reference tool by officials who have already gone through a training course." (Introduction)
1 What is freedom of information? 9
2 Basic principles of freedom of information laws, 21
3 Legal framework for freedom of information, 33
4 What are the exceptions to public access to information? 39
5 Public bodies and access to information, 49
6 Who are the requesters? 63
7 Processing requests, 69
Closing session of the workshop – summary and evaluation, 83
Appendix 1 Access to information laws around the world, 93
Appendix 2 ARTICLE 19 Model Law on Freedom of Information, 17 pp.
Appendix 3 Sample information request form from South Africa, pp.18-20
2 Basic principles of freedom of information laws, 21
3 Legal framework for freedom of information, 33
4 What are the exceptions to public access to information? 39
5 Public bodies and access to information, 49
6 Who are the requesters? 63
7 Processing requests, 69
Closing session of the workshop – summary and evaluation, 83
Appendix 1 Access to information laws around the world, 93
Appendix 2 ARTICLE 19 Model Law on Freedom of Information, 17 pp.
Appendix 3 Sample information request form from South Africa, pp.18-20
