Information Society: Access to Public Information

Abstract

From the various international declarations and the rules on the right of access to information, its specific content can be better understood. In this scenario, this paper will explore the framework of the principles that must be supported by the new Ecuadorian legislation on the right to access public information. The general guarantee of the right to access public information under international law establishes a general opening in favor of the dissemination of information that is held by public entities. This implies not only that states must guarantee the right to information, but also that effective systems must be established to enforce it. Although the regimes on the right to information vary in different countries of the world, there are also several notable similarities (Mendel, El derecho a la información en América Latina: comparación jurídica. Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura, Quito (2009)) [3]. These similarities will be the basis of the principles discussed below.