Links
Britain: Campaign for Freedom of Information
Campaign for Freedom of Information, leading campaign group for FOI in the UK - also has a Scotland office.
EU: Statewatch keeping a close eye on developments
The British civil liberties organisation Statewatch is among the most active watchdogs about EU transparency and secrecy. Since 1992 it has kept an eye on developments, Statewatch provides an overview over EU caselaw, it provides an observatory on the EU access to documents regulation and it has an observatory on the struggle before the EU access to documents regulation was adopted.
NL & EU: Overview over EU-25
During the Dutch presidency of the EU in the 2nd half of 2004, attention was drawn on the wobbing. In that context Herke Kranenborg and Wim Voermans of the University in Leiden in the Netherlands produced a comparative analysis of EC and member state legislation in the 25 EU-memberstates at the time.
Worldwide: Status over wob-legislation
Dutch wob-expert Roger Vleugels provides a status-list over wob-legislations worldwide, updated February 2006.
US: Investigative Reporters and Editors
The association for Investigative Reporters and Editors, IRE, in the United States, regularly publishes short resumées about wob stories, where the Freedom of Information Acts have been used.
US, Europe, Asia: Freedominfo.org
www.freedominfo.org is an online network of freedom of information advocates. The board includes some of the most prominent names in the field of wobbing and research in the US, Europe and Asia.
Britain, global: Article 19 for Freedom of Expression
Article 19 is an international organisation promoting the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information.
Germany: Active wob-ombudsperson in Brandenburg
The wob-ombudsperson in the German province of Brandenburg has been active in networking on wob-questions in Germany and in Europe. It provides links to German, European and international networks of wob-ombudspersons.
Germany: Wob-ombudsperson Berlin
The wob-ombudsperson in Berlin provides an overview over legislation in Germany aswell as the German network of wob-ombudspersons.
Germany, background: Development of the German WOB
In her degree at the German University of Koblenz-Landau, Monica Broschard in 2003 gave an overview over the development of the German wob.
Germany: Wob-ombudsperson province of Nordrhein-Westfalen
The wob-ombudsperson in the German province of Nordrhein-Westfalen provides a website including advise by the government of the province on how to apply the provincial wob.
Germany: Wob-ombudsperson province of Schleswig-Holstein
The wob-ombudsperson in the province of Schleswig-Holstein provides a website with an overview over the law, links to other ombudspersons and tips on how to apply for information.
Germany, background: The alliance behind the German wob
The federal German wob came into force as of January 2006. The alliance Pro Information, consisting of journalist-organisations, civil-liberty activists and a large media think-tank pushed for the law.
Denmark: Medialaw overview provided by the Danish School of Journalism
Mediejura at the Danish School of Journalism provides an overview over legislation, cases, caselaw and developments in the field of wobbing, the main focus is on Denmark, the Nordic countries and Europe - in that order.
Britain: Information rights user group
The British Department for Constitutional Affairs has an Information Rights Users Group including a representative for the Society of Editors.
Britain: National Archives
For historical information, the National Archives provide documents and data.
Britain: Ministry of Agriculture
The British Ministry of Agriculture provides information about access to environmental information.
EU: European Information Association
The European Information Association is a British based organisation of information specialists 'whose aim is to develop, co-ordinate and improve access to EU information'. It provides guides to official sources, reports and training.
International, Spain, Bulgaria: Freedom of Information Advocates Network
The Freedom of Information Advocates Network is a global network of campaigners in favour of more transparency and the right to freedom of information.
Spain, Europe: Acces Info
Access Info is working Europe wide "campaigning to promote adoption, reform and implementation of access to information laws."
Norway, Germany: Private website, overview over wob's
An overview over wob-legislation, occasionally updated, including English translation for Nordic countries, private website by Walter Keim.
South Africa, international: Global Transparency Initiative
The Global Transparency Initiative "is a network of civil society organisations promoting openness in the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the World Bank, the IMF, the European Investment Bank and Regional Development Banks." It uses WOBs as a tool in order to achieve it's transparency aims.
US, international: Justice Initiative
http://www.justiceinitiative.org/activities/foifoe/foi/foilawsThe Justice Initiative, one of the Soros-organisations, is among the pro-transparency activists and provides an overview over FOI-laws of the world.
US: Columbia Journalism Review's WOB overview
The Columbia Journalism Review on it's Powerreporting.org resource sites provides a thorough overview over WOB and privacy links.
US: National Security Archive
The National Security Archive at the George Washington University in Washington DC is among the most systematic users of the WOB. National Security Archive runs FOI-cases and provides a collection of de-classified documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
US: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press - wobbing advise
The US Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press is a nonprofit organisation, that since 1970 has been working to provide free legal assistance to journalists. It provides a thorough overview on how to use US freedom of information acts, and it provides a letter generator.
UN: Access to environmental information worldwide
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, UNECE, provides an overview over access to environmental information worldwide. Information is held in a database and can be searched by region or region aswell as by organisation (academia, government, NGO, intergovernmental organisations).
How to wob in Ireland: Guide by the Freedom of Information Commissioner
The Irish Freedom of Information Commissioner gives advise on how to use the Irish wob. The guide-book contains a list of all public bodies concerned, including contact details to the relevant officials.
Wobbing Europe is run by the Pascal Decroos Fund
Wobbing Europe is officially sponsored by the Flemish Government