Hungary: Proposed constitution is serious threat to right to information
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Budapest/Berlin/Madrid, 15 April 2011 – In yet another assault on freedom of expression and information the Hungarian government is set to adopt a new Constitution on Monday 18 April which will abolish independent oversight of the public’s right to know.
Human rights and media freedom groups today warned that the proposal to replace the independent Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commissioner with an administrative authority will seriously weaken the right to access to information in Hungary, which in 1992 was the first country in central and eastern Europe to adopt an access law.
We're holding a workshop for investigative journalists in Budapest, Hungary from April 14-15. The training will empower local journalists to recoup their role as public watchdogs through exercise of their right to freedom of information and to strengthen their ability to protect their privacy, information, and sources.
The first BIRN Summer School of Investigative Reporting was held between August 22nd and 28th, at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia. More than 60 trainers, panelists and participants had chance to see, hear and learn more about investigative reporting, to establish new contacts and to make new friends. Listen to the executive director of Access Info Europe, Helen Darbishire, on Access of Information Laws.
Access Info Europe and n-ost are working to empower journalists to recoup their role as public watchdogs through exercise of their right of access to information in both their own country and other countries.
