Useful links on Right to Information: Research, campaigns, tools, etc.

This page contains academic resources, links to campaigns using right to information, tools, and other resources on the right to information. Updated as and when I find a new resource.

  1. Rating of RTI laws around the world
    Bookmarked on 06.10.2011:

    This page contains information about a ranking of countries based on the strength of the right to information Law. Serbia has the highest ranking followed closely by India. Sweden, the first country to legislate the right to information, falls very low in the list.

  2. Global Integrity
    Bookmarked on 28.09.2011:

    Contains articles on anti-corruption movements and initiatives from around the world.

  3. RTI Rating Methodology
    Bookmarked on 11.03.2011:

    New dataset being created on the right to information laws based on how strong the laws are.

  4. Anti-Corruption Resources
    Bookmarked on 19.12.2010:

    Transparency International UK's page with links to articles and websites of other organisations working on corruption. There are detailed case studies from different countries on anti-corruption measures.

  5. Government Records Branch of North Carolina
    Bookmarked on 27.11.2010:

    Contains detailed formats, guidelines and other information on public records and its management that is useful for RTI activists.

  6. Public Database Indexing Guidelines
    Bookmarked on 27.11.2010:

    North Carolina is mandated by law to maintain an index of all electronic public records with description of available data. This is a guideline prepared by the State government to prepare an index of the databases

  7. Open Government Guide
    Bookmarked on 27.11.2010:

    "a complete compendium of information on every state's open records and open meetings laws. Each state's section is arranged according to a standard outline, making it easy to compare laws in various states".

  8. Sunshine Review
    Bookmarked on 27.11.2010:

    "Sunshine Review is a non-profit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. The Sunshine Review wiki collects and shares transparency information and uses a "10-point Transparency Checklist" to evaluate the content of every state and more than 5,000 local government websites".

  9. Transparency International
    Bookmarked on 21.09.2009:

    TI works on transparency and the right to information worldwide. The site contains a number of reports and datasets on this issue.

  10. Best practices for government websites
    Bookmarked on 14.07.2009:

    What are some steps that governments have to take in order to build effective websites that can have an impact on governance.

  11. Interview with CIC "DoPT is against the concept of RTI"
    Bookmarked on 31.03.2007:

    Chief Information Commissioner talks of struggles with Department of Personnel and Training on the implementation of rti

  12. Orissa Campaign For Right To Information
    Bookmarked on 24.02.2007:

  13. Parivartan – Fighting Corruption
    Bookmarked on 06.10.2006:

    An impressive group working on corruption in public works in Delhi.

  14. 2nd Administrative Reform Commission – 2005
    Bookmarked on 28.09.2006:

    Has detailed reports on Empoloyment Guarantee, Right to Information and a host of other administrative issues. Useful presentations, and reviews as well.

  15. National employment guarantee inaction
    Bookmarked on 24.09.2006:

    Reviews EGA in various states and the importance of collective action

  16. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    A site with lot of useful materials on right to information

  17. Freedom of Information Act Documents
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    List of documents, cases on RTI in USA

  18. Empowerment and Democracy in the 21st Century
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Transcript of meeting in Brookings

  19. RTI laws in 5 countries – comparitive analysis
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Examiles RTI laws in United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and

  20. A citizen's guide to freedom of information act
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Website of Heather Brooke, a journalist based in London. Has a number of posts on using the freedom of information act in the UK.

  21. Legislating RTI – A guide by UNDP
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    A detailed guide on preparation, legislation and implementation of RTI

  22. Measuring RTI's impact – A guide by UNDP
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

  23. RTI – Recommended readings
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

  24. List of Countries with Freedom of Information Laws
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

  25. Freedom of information legislation – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Wikipedia entry on RTI. Has list of countries with RTI, and other information.

  26. Privacy international's RTI page
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Reports and memos on the right to information by a group that works on protecting privacy. An interesting read.

  27. UNDP | Democratic Governance
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Booklets and toolkits on various topics of interest relating to different aspects of democracy.

  28. We Need Fewer Secrets
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    An article by Jimmy Carter asking for more transparent governance on the 40th anniversary of FoI law in USA.

  29. Is RTI possible for developing countries
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

  30. A goldmine for babus
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Argues that RTI is a goldmine of job for retired bureaucrats

  31. Freedominfo.org
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Articles on right to information from across the world

  32. Pakistan and India's RTI Laws – a comparision
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    Comparision of RTI laws in Pakistan and India

  33. Speaking Truth to Power
    Bookmarked on 23.08.2006:

    An issue of "Seminar" magazine dedicated to the right to information. Contains articles by a number of well known RTI activists in India

  34. Right to Information Portal
    Bookmarked on 09.04.2006:

    RTI portal of government of India.

  35. Monthly progress report of RTI – Cuttack district
    Bookmarked on 09.04.2006:

  36. Chief Information Commisison
    Bookmarked on 09.04.2006:

    CIC is a powerful body with judicial powers to adjudicate right to information related questions. Cases and the judgements are documented in the site.

  37. Orissa Suchana Commission
    Bookmarked on 09.04.2006:

    Information commission of the Orissa government. Has a few useful documents and links.

  38. Orissa Campaign For Right To Information
    Bookmarked on 26.01.2006:

  39. Right to Information in India – Homepage
    Bookmarked on 20.01.2006:

    The right to information page of India Together a leading web magazine covering major social issues in India . Provides an excellent overview to issues relating to RTI in the Indian context.

  40. National Council for People's Right to Information
    Bookmarked on 20.01.2006:

    One of the premier networks of organisations working on the right to information in India

  41. Right to Information Act India
    Bookmarked on 20.01.2006:

    The RTI page of personnel ministry. Includes full text of the Act and other useful resources.

  42. Indicators, Definitions and Recommended norms for transparency in financial institutions
    Bookmarked on 17.01.2006:

    A good resource on the transparency norms that should be there in international financial institutions.

  43. A Comparative Analysis and Introduction to IFI transparency resources
    Bookmarked on 17.01.2006:

    Develops norms for transparency and evaluates various international financial institutions. A useful resource

  44. IFI Transparency Resource
    Bookmarked on 17.01.2006:

    "An extensive information tool on transparency at the International Financial Institutions IFIs ". Includes discussions, evaluations, guidelines, tools and other resources.

  45. Transcript of an NGO meeting with Wolfensohn of World Bank
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  46. Representation without Information
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    "How World Bank Group Governance Shuts Out Citizens and Undermines Accountability"

  47. Transparency and Accountability in International Financial Institutions
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    Article by Graham Saul of Bank Information Center on transparency in IFIs

  48. Open Up the WTO washingtonpost.com
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  49. Disclosure or Deception? Multilateral Development Banks and Access to Information
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    Article on the lack of access to information in Development banks

  50. Transparency at the World Bank
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    Review of the World Bank's transparency policy and action.

  51. The Ongoing Struggle for World Bank Transparency: The Outcome of the Information Disclosure Policy
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  52. The IMF's Transparency Policy — Statement by Horst Köhler, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  53. IMFs Transparency Policy – Progress Report on Publication of Country Documents
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  54. Factsheet – Transparency at the IMF
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

  55. ADB Operations Manual – Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information – ADB.org
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    Disclosure of informatio manual at ADB

  56. The World Bank – Information Disclosure
    Bookmarked on 12.01.2006:

    Information disclosure page and policy at the World Bank

  57. "The State of Secrecy II" Survey
    Bookmarked on 11.01.2006:

    "Eight Indiana newspapers joined forces earlier this year to see how easy it is for citizens to get public records"

  58. Informationsfreiheit – Startseite
    Bookmarked on 11.01.2006:

  59. CHRI on RTI
    Bookmarked on 18.12.2005:

    A good resource on basic issues relating to right to information by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

About the Author

I work with the Liberation Technology Program at Stanford University. My interests are cosmopolitan and this blog will reflect many such interests. For more, click on "Me" above.