The Right to Information Empowerment Programme aims at improving the right to information legislation, the implementation and enforcement of such legislation and the utilisation of the right to information as a tool for democracy, good governance and the protection of human rights in a number of South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The programme focuses on facilitating the effective engagement of active citizens, civil society organisations, human rights activists and development experts in the field of the right to information, through awareness raising, capacity building and research activities.

The research activities in the framework of the Right to Information Empowerment Programme include:

·        Conducting an implementation audit of the implementation of the Right to Information Act No. 22 of 2005 in the public sector in Karnataka with the help of volunteers.

·        Conducting and publishing a comparative study on best practice examples in the field of the right to information in developing countries, including elaborate right to information legislation and litigation, effective implementation strategies, and successful activities of civil society organisations in the field of right to information.

·        Developing and publishing a compilation of instruments to strengthen right to information legislation and its implementation, including whistle-blower protection models and citizen charter models

Implementation Audit

Content: Evaluation of the implementation of the Right to Information Act No. 22 of 2005 in the public sector in Karnataka

Responsible team member: Sheila Premkumar/ Sabine Benzing-Balzer

Publication date: Spring 2008

Comparative study of best practice example in the field of right to information in developing countries

Content: Right to information best practice examples in developing countries covering the areas of legislation, implementation, utilization by NGOs and litigation

Responsible team member: Sabine Benzing-Balzer

Publication date: Spring 2008

Compilation of instruments to strengthen right to information legislation and its implementation

Content: Compilation of instruments to strengthen right to information legislation and implementation with focus of whistle blower protection models and citizen charter models

Responsible team member: Sabine Benzing-Balzer

Publication date: Spring 2008