7 November 2006
Justice Initiative Activities Roundup: September to October 2006
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Justice Initiative Intervenes in Armenian FOI Suit
On Oct. 16, the Justice Initiative filed written comments with the European
Court of Human Rights in a freedom of information case against Armenia. The
case, Geraguyn Khorhurd Patgamavorakan Akumb v. Armenia, involves the
alleged failure of an Armenian election authority to provide information on
its decision making processes, as well as data pertaining to the campaign
contributions and expenses of certain political parties. The Justice
Initiative was granted leave by the Court to intervene as a third party in
the case and submit comments on the general principles involved. The brief
argues that the existence of a right to information is well established in
European and international law, and urges the Court to find that Article 10
of the European Convention on Human Rights establishes a right of access to
information held by public authorities. The brief also elaborates on the
close links between access to information, free expression and political
participation.
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The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open
Society Institute, pursues law reform activities grounded in the protection
of human rights, and contributes to the development of legal capacity for
open societies worldwide. The Justice Initiative combines litigation, legal
advocacy, technical assistance, and the dissemination of knowledge to secure
advances in the following priority areas: national criminal justice,
international justice, freedom of information and expression, and equality
and citizenship. Its offices are in Abuja, Budapest, and New York.