Access to information, transparency and accountability

Given the fundamental right to information, governments have a duty to provide access to information. This paper focuses on access to information as fundamental human right and a precondition to transparency and accountability in the public sector. In addition to a brief presentation of the concept itself, access to information in the Arab world is treated as well as the role of information in good governance, information management in good governance and freedom of expression. It concludes with a set of recommendations for improving access to information, transparency and accountability in the public sector.