Transparency and Silence: A Survey of Access to Information Laws and Practices in 14 Countries

This comparative study on access to information in 14 countries finds that transitional democracies outperformed established ones in providing information about government activities. Bulgaria, Romania, Armenia, Mexico, and Peru did better in answering citizens’ requests for information than France and Spain.

Published by the Open Society Justice Initiative, Transparency and Silence documents how various countries did—or did not—honor the right of access to information. In analyzing over 1,900 requests for information filed in 14 countries, the report finds that countries with access to information laws performed better than those with no law or with administrative provisions instead of a law.

The complete study is available for download in English and Spanish. A summary is also available in English.