Hi, I *may* have mentioned this before...the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act has a specific section about 'Exercise of rights by children'
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2002/13/section/69 A search of the term in the Commissioner's decision page yields no results and I don't believe it has ever been adjudicated... The (simple) idea was to legally allow the provisions in the Act to be used by children. Is it a unique legislative provision? Best wishes, David On 20 August 2013 05:26, Tara Nath Dahal <tnda...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Dear friends, > > We are planing to Develop school level curriculum (grade 8 to 12)in Right > to information in Nepal,so i would request to all of you pls send some > relevant document from your country or your knowledge. > > Taranath dahal > Nepal > > Sent from my iPad > > On Aug 19, 2013, at 8:50 PM, foianet-request@lists.foiadvocates.infowrote: > > > Send FOIAnet mailing list submissions to > > foia...@lists.foiadvocates.info > > > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > http://lists.foiadvocates.info/listinfo.cgi/foianet-foiadvocates.info > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > > foianet-requ...@lists.foiadvocates.info > > > > You can reach the person managing the list at > > foianet-ow...@lists.foiadvocates.info > > > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > > than "Re: Contents of FOIAnet digest..." > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > > > 1. FreedomInfo.org - Update, Aug. 16, 2013 (McIntosh, Toby) > > 2. Fwd: Government cuts, copies and pastes clauses from the RTI > > Act to dilute Whistleblowers Bill to protect ?national security? > > and Cabinet papers (Venkatesh Nayak) > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Message: 1 > > Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:30:01 +0000 > > From: "McIntosh, Toby" <tmcint...@bna.com> > > To: Foianet <foianet@foiadvocates.info> > > Subject: [foianet] FreedomInfo.org - Update, Aug. 16, 2013 > > Message-ID: > > < > 8dd81deb46c648df870913353c765...@by2pr03mb089.namprd03.prod.outlook.com> > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > > > FreedomInfo.org - Update, Aug. 16, 2013 > > > > India< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/indian-government-offers-bill-to-exempt-parties-from-rti/>: > Bill offered to exempt political parties from RTI Act; activists promise > court challenge. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/indian-government-offers-bill-to-exempt-parties-from-rti/ > > Kenya:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/kenya-debating-transparency-of-natural-resource-contracts/> > Disclosure of contracts about mining becomes a hot topic. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/kenya-debating-transparency-of-natural-resource-contracts/ > > Pakistan:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/punjab-seeks-comment-on-new-version-of-rti-bill/> > Punjab seeks comments on draft RTI legislation. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/punjab-seeks-comment-on-new-version-of-rti-bill/ > > United States:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/texas-oks-message-boards-for-offiicials-to-communicate/> > Texas passes a law allowing officials to meet online. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/texas-oks-message-boards-for-offiicials-to-communicate/ > > OGP:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/tackling-thorny-issues-of-open-government-at-the-ogp-london-summit/> > "Tackling Thorny Issues of Open Government at the OGP London Summit;" > suggestions from UK civil society organizations. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/tackling-thorny-issues-of-open-government-at-the-ogp-london-summit/ > > United Kingdom:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/uk-ico-issues-guidance-on-requests-for-personal-data/> > The information commissioner issues guidance on requests for personal data. > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/uk-ico-issues-guidance-on-requests-for-personal-data/ > > FOI Notes< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/foi-notes-survey-open-economics-open-data-unesco-research-call/>: > FOI Survey, OGP Bright Spots, Open Economics, Open Data, UNESCO Research > Call > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/foi-notes-survey-open-economics-open-data-unesco-research-call/ > > > > FOI Notes II:< > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/foi-notes-surveillance-research-model-ogp-u-s-eu-australia/> > Surveillance, Research, Model OGP; U.S., EU, Australia > > > http://www.freedominfo.org/2013/08/foi-notes-surveillance-research-model-ogp-u-s-eu-australia/ > > Read more at http://www.FreedomInfo.org<http://www.freedominfo.org/> > > > > EVENTS CALENDAR: New postings from the Carter Center. For more details, > a full list of upcoming events and to submit entries visit the Carter > Center calendar page: > http://www.cartercenter.org/peace/americas/access_to_information/calendar.html > > > > 11th Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony; September 28, 2013; Sophia, > Bulgaria and nationwide > > > > > > > > World Bribery & Corruption Compliance Forum 2013; October 15-17, 2013; > London, UK > > > > > > > > 2013 Open Government Conference; December 9-10, 2013; Austin, Texas > > > > > > > > Open Access Week 2013 Kick Off Event at the World Bank; October 21, > 2013; Washington DC, USA or online > > > > > > > > Seminar on OA Policy Development in Moldova; August 29, 2013; Chisinau, > Moldova > > > > > > > > Open Access and Research Conference 2013; October 31-November 1, 2013; > Brisbane, Queensland, Australia > > > > > > > > International Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government 2014 > (CeDEM14); May 21-23, 2014; Krems an der Donau, Austria > > > > Blog Roll: Visit the FreedomInfo.org Blog Roll at > http://www.freedominfo.org/about-us/foia-blog-roll/ > > 94: Counting Countries with FOI regimes > http://www.freedominfo.org/regions/global/foi-regimes/ > > OGP: Read all FreedomInfo.org articles about the OGP at > http://www.freedominfo.org/regions/global/ogp/ > > Measuring Openness: A resource about comprehensive efforts to compare > the transparency of nations and organizations on a variety of > transparency-related topics. http://www.freedominfo.org/measuring-openess/ > > Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/freedominfoorg > > _______________________________________________________________ > > FreedomInfo.org is a one-stop portal that describes best practices, > consolidates lessons learned, explains campaign strategies and tactics, and > links the efforts of freedom of information advocates around the world. It > contains crucial information on freedom of information laws and how they > were drafted and implemented, including how various provisions have worked > in practice. > > _______________________________________________________________ > > PRIVACY NOTICE FreedomInfo.org does not and will never share the names > or e-mail addresses of its subscribers with any other organization. We > would welcome your input, and any information you care to share with us > about your special interests. But we do not sell or rent any information > about subscribers to any other party. > > _______________________________________________________________ > > TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THE LIST You may leave the list at any time by > sending a "SIGNOFF FREEDOMINFO" command to <lists...@hermes.circ.gwu.edu>. > You can also unsubscribe from the list anytime by using the following link: > <http://hermes.circ.gwu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=freedominfo&A=1> > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > > URL: < > http://lists.foiadvocates.info/private.cgi/foianet-foiadvocates.info/attachments/20130816/752fe5ce/attachment-0001.htm > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Message: 2 > > Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 20:23:00 +0530 > > From: Venkatesh Nayak <venkat...@humanrightsinitiative.org> > > To: Foianet <foianet@foiadvocates.info> > > Subject: [foianet] Fwd: Government cuts, copies and pastes clauses > > from the RTI Act to dilute Whistleblowers Bill to protect ?national > > security? and Cabinet papers > > Message-ID: > > <CA+58L1H3GmPcvw_L+HsjUjsOFHb71P7gMhPMb4oD_r=hqnh...@mail.gmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" > > > > Dear all, > > I am forwarding an email alert relating to the amendments proposed to > > India's Whistlebower Bill which has implications for RTI users and > > activists as well. > > Thanks > > Venkatesh Nayak > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > > From: Venkatesh Nayak <venkat...@humanrightsinitiative.org> > > Date: Mon, Aug 19, 2013 at 8:17 PM > > Subject: Government cuts, copies and pastes clauses from the RTI Act to > > dilute Whistleblowers Bill to protect ?national security? and Cabinet > papers > > To: humjane...@yahoogroups.co.in, rti4...@yahoogroups.com, > > childrensrighttof...@googlegroups.com, > loksatta_initiat...@yahoogroups.com, > > p...@yahoogroups.com, antibriberycampa...@yahoogroups.com, > > development_communication_in_orissa-ow...@yahoogroups.com, > > rtf-updates+own...@googlegroups.com, > > stop-corruption-worldw...@google.groups.com, > the-modera...@googlegroups.com > > > > > > Dear all, > > The Government of India has recently given notice to the Rajya Sabha (RS) > > about its intention to amend the *Whistleblowers Protection Bill, > > 2011*(WBP Bill) further. Readers will remember that the Lok Sabha > > passed this > > Bill without much discussion during the heated debate around the Lokpal > and > > Lokayuktas Bill in December 2011. The WBP BIll is pending in the Rajya > > Sabha. > > > > *I. **Amendments drafted in complete secrecy:* > > > > Neither has the Government bothered to upload the text of these > amendments > > on its website nor has the Rajya Sabha Secretariat bothered to upload > this > > notice of amendments on its website. In the age of the *Right to > Information > > * while MPs get to know about these amendments well in advance, WE THE > > PEOPLE who elect them and pay taxes to cover their salaries and the > > expenditure involved in running Parliament have to wait until they are > > tabled in the House. > > > > > > *II. **Content of the amendments:* > > > > The Government seeks to amend the WBP Bill in 11 places (3 major changes > > and 8 rectification of errors). The proposed amendments dilute the WBP > Bill > > in a significant manner. Here?s how: > > > > > > 1) *The amendments take away the right of any public servant, person or > > NGO (henceforth ?any person?) to make a public interest disclosure > *(i.e, a > > whistleblower complaint) about corruption, willful misuse of power or > > willful abuse of discretion or criminal offences committed in a public > > authority *if it will prejudice the country?s sovereignty and integrity > and > > the security, defence, scientific, economic or strategic interests of the > > State*. > > > > > > > > 2) *The amendments take away the right of any person to make a public > > interest disclosure *(i.e., a whistleblower complaint) about corruption, > > willful misuse of power or willful abuse of discretion or criminal > offences > > committed in a public authority *if it is likely to prejudicially affect > > relations with a foreign State*. > > > > > > 3) *The amendments take away the right of any person to make a public > > interest disclosure* (i.e., a whistleblower complaint) about corruption, > > willful misuse of power or wilfiful abuse of discretion or criminal > > offences committed in a public authority *if it is likely to lead to > > incitement to an offence*. > > > > > > > > 4) *A potential whistleblower will not be able to attach to his/her > > complaint Cabinet papers and records of deliberations of Ministers and > > bureaucrats relating to any matter, as evidence*, until a final decision > is > > reached on it or the matter is treated as complete or over in terms of > > the *Right > > to Information Act, 2005* (RTI Act). > > > > > > > > 5) *Competent authorities such as the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) > > or similarly placed agencies in the States are prohibited from inquiring > > into whistleblower complaints that relate to any of the interests > mentioned > > in paras #1-4 above.* They will have to first take a clearance from a > > designated authority in the concerned department and organisation that > the > > matter does not fall into any of these categories before launching an > > inquiry. > > > > > > 6) If such a designated authority certifies that a whistleblower > > complaint relates to any of the interests mentioned in paras #1-4 at any > > stage of the inquiry, *the competent authorities cannot proceed any > further > > on such complaint. It will be dropped*. > > > > > > > > 7) *A public servant may be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act, > > 1923 for blowing the whistle* on corruption, willful abuse of power or > > willful misuse of discretion or criminal offences committed in a public > > authority if he/she sends copies of official documents as probable > evidence > > along with the complaint. > > > > * * > > > > *III. **A preliminary analysis of the proposed amendments:* > > > > *a) *The ?national security? related grounds (abbreviated phrase > denoting > > #paras 1-3 mentioned above) are so broad that a public authority may > > connect any whistleblower complaint to these interests and prevent > > competent authorities like the CVC from inquiring into it. These grounds > > are copied from the RTI Act which is itself under threat of dilution. As > > the proposed amendments do not contain any other mechanism for inquiring > > into complaints belonging to this category, it appears that the > Government > > is willing to throw them all into the dustbin. *This is a blatant > negation > > of the twin principles of ?rule of law? and accountable governance that > > underpin our constitutional democracy.* > > > > > > > > *b) *The designated authority is empowered to certify that any > > information that a competent authority may call for or summon during the > > course of an inquiry relates to the ?national security? grounds mentioned > > at para #1-3 above. As this certificate is to be treated as binding and > > conclusive, the competent authority will have to proceed without access > to > > these restricted records or drop the inquiry into the whistleblower > > complaint altogether. *Thus the proposed amendments empower the > Government > > to frustrate inquiry into a whistleblower complaint at every stage on > > grounds of ?national security?.* > > > > > > > > *c) *According to the WBP Bill approved by the Lok Sabha, the Prime > > Minister is the ?competent authority? to launch an inquiry into a > > whistleblower complaint against his/her Ministers. Similarly the Chief > > Ministers in the States are the ?competent authorities? to inquire into > > whistleblower complaints against their Ministers. The procedure for > inquiry > > described in the WBP Bill is common to all competent authorities. If the > > new amendments are approved by Parliament, the PM and the CMs will have > to > > seek clearance from the designated authority of the > department/organization > > before inquiring into whistleblower complaints relating to national > > security. So even an Under Secretary grade officer, if appointed as the > > designated authority, can in theory prevent the PM or the CM from > ordering > > an inquiry into a whistleblower complaint if he/she certifies that the > > matter relates to ?national security?. *This is the ridiculous > implication > > of the amendments that the Government has proposed to the WBP Bill.* > > > > * > > * > > > > *d) *Clause 4 of the WBP Bill passed by the Lok Sabha permitted a > > bureaucrat to make a public interest disclosure about corruption, willful > > misuse of power or willful abuse of discretion without fear of > prosecution > > under the *Official Secrets Act, 1923* (OSA). The proposed amendments > seek > > to drop the reference to OSA from this clause. *This will effectively > > discourage any bureaucrat from coming forward to make a public interest > > disclosure even about wrongdoings that have nothing to do with national > > security. The potential for victimising a whistleblower is built in to > this > > provision even though the WBP Bill?s stated aim is to prevent such > > victimization of persons who speak the truth. This amendment trashes the > > principle of ?safe option to silence? which should underpin all > > whistleblower protection laws.* > > > > * > > * > > > > *e) *If the Cabinet papers-related restriction is approved by > Parliament, > > a potential whistleblower has no option but to obtain copies of these > > records by making a request under the RTI Act if he/she wants to attach > > them as evidence of his/her complaint. *No other whistleblower protection > > law in the world contains such a restrictive provision.* > > > > *f) *If the national security grounds for prohibiting inquiry by > > competent authorities are approved by Parliament, they are likely to send > > every complaint to the designated authority in the concerned > > department/organization for vetting in order to play safe.* As the > > amendments do not prescribe any time limit for issuing clearances, > > whistleblower complaints may gather dust piled up on the designated > > officers? desks instead of being inquired into in all earnestness.* > > > > * > > * > > There are other lacunae in the WBP Bill. You will find these details in > the > > full text of our preliminary analysis of the WBP Bill (second > attachment). > > > > Please circulate this email alert widely. > > * > > * > > *In order to access our previous email alerts on RTI and related issues > > please click on: > > > http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=84 > > You > > will find the links at the top of this web page. If you do not wish to > > receive these email alerts please send an email to this address > indicating > > your refusal.* > > > > Thanks > > > > Venkatesh Nayak > > > > *Programme Coordinator* > > > > *Access to Information Programme* > > > > *Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative* > > > > *B-117, First Floor, Sarvodaya Enclave* > > > > *New Delhi- 110 017* > > > > *Tel: +91-11-43180215/ 43180201* > > > > *Fax: +91-26864688* > > > > *Skype: venkatesh.na...@skype.com* > > > > *Alternate Email: > > venkat...@humanrightsinitiative.or<venkat...@humanrightsinitiative.org> > > g* > > -------------- next part -------------- > > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > > URL: < > http://lists.foiadvocates.info/private.cgi/foianet-foiadvocates.info/attachments/20130819/de752021/attachment.htm > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > > Name: WhistleblowerBill-GOIamndmnts-Notice2RS-2013.pdf > > Type: application/pdf > > Size: 193274 bytes > > Desc: not available > > URL: < > http://lists.foiadvocates.info/private.cgi/foianet-foiadvocates.info/attachments/20130819/de752021/attachment.pdf > > > > -------------- next part -------------- > > A non-text attachment was scrubbed... > > Name: WBPBill-amndmnts2013-CHRIprelimanalysis-VN-Aug13.doc > > Type: application/msword > > Size: 49664 bytes > > Desc: not available > > URL: < > http://lists.foiadvocates.info/private.cgi/foianet-foiadvocates.info/attachments/20130819/de752021/attachment.doc > > > > > > End of FOIAnet Digest, Vol 250, Issue 1 > > *************************************** > -- "Ye canna get leave tae thrive for thrang", A Ramsay (ed) A collection of Scots Proverbs (1736)
