The International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) has reached a historic milestone adopting the Johannesburg Charter, constituting itself as the forum for information rights across the world with a stable secretariat and principles underpinning membership and ways of working.
The Charter, agreed at the ICIC’s 2019 conference held in Johannesburg this month, provides the foundations for the network to grow and develop into the global voice promoting access to information rights across the world. It builds on the success of the previous ad-hoc conferences held regularly since 2003.
Elizabeth Denham, Chair of the ICIC Governance Working Group, said:
“We are united in a recognition of the importance of access to information rights. We are committed to the advancement of transparency, accountability and ultimately to the advancement of democracy.”The work of the ICIC will now gather pace, led by a geographically diverse governance working group. Priority themes such as transparency in elections, engagement with international bodies, and stability of funding for the secretariat, are key agenda items for the year ahead.
Notes to Editors
- The ICIC was first held in Berlin in 2003 where Information Commissioners and Ombudsmen met to adopt a declaration for further cooperation and experience sharing among regulatory authorities charged with overseeing the access to public information.
- The Johannesburg Charter was adopted on 13 March 2019.
- The ICIC is currently chaired by the ICO with the assistance of a Governance Working Group comprising the Province of Alberta, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Scotland, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tunisia.