The Centre for Law and Democracy (commonly known as CLD) is a Canadian-based non-governmental organisation that works internationally to promote fundamental rights for democracy, with an emphasis on freedom of expression, freedom of association, the right to information and Digital rights.
Contents
The Global Right to Information Rating
CLD is best known for publishing the Global Right to Information Rating, a comparative analysis of right to information laws around the world, which it developed in collaboration with Access Info Europe, along with a network of global transparency experts.The Rating provides a reliable tool for advocates, critics, legislators and journalists to measure their country’s right to information laws against their neighbours, and against international standards. Its rankings have been cited widely in international media.
The RTI Rating assesses legislation based on 61 indicators of a strong right to information law, and is divided into seven categories: Right of Access, Scope, Requesting Procedures, Exceptions and Refusals, Appeals, Sanctions and Protection and Promotional Measures. Currently, the top countries in the Rating are Serbia, India and Slovenia, while the worst countries are Austria, Liechtenstein and Tajikistan.
Myanmar's Democratic Transition
CLD has been prominently engaged in supporting Myanmar’s democratic transition, including by helping to found the Myanmar Media Lawyers’ Network, and through direct engagement with the government, political parties and civil society to promote understanding of human rights. In 2015, CLD, alongside David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and Myanmar’s Information Minister U Ye Htut, appeared at the International Press Institute’s 2015 World Congress and General Assembly to advise on the importance of expanding free expression rights in the country.
Newfoundland and Labrador's Legislative Reform
CLD has been prominently involved in processes to improve right to information recommendations on improving Newfoundland and Labrador’s right to information legislation. This began in 2012 with the controversial adoption of Bill 29, an act which substantially weakened transparency in the province. CLD was highly critical of the moves, which led then-Attorney General Felix Collins to refer to them as an “cheap, amateurish” “two-bit outfit” on the floor of the House of Assembly. In response, CLD noted that they had worked in many difficult environments, including Kazakhstan, Myanmar and Somalia, but that this was the first time their integrity and professionalism had been attacked by a political leader. Two years later, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador backed down from the Bill 29 changes and initiated a review process, in which CLD was a prominent participant, and which resulted in strong improvements to the provincial right to information legislation.
Human Rights in Indonesia
CLD has been actively involved in advocating for the strengthening of right to information laws in Indonesia. CLD’s work here has included intervening as an amicus curiae at the Indonesian Constitutional Court, and publishing a report detailing barriers to implementation of Indonesia’s access to information legislation cited by the University College of London’s Constitution Unit.
CLD also participated in an International Partnership Mission to Indonesia with the aim of protecting media institutions by strengthening press freedoms and freedom of expression legislation. Following consultations with high-level government stakeholders, civil society, and the media, the mission ultimately identified several important areas for improvement including impunity for violent acts committed against journalists, monopolist ownership of media outlets, harsh criminal sanctions for certain types of online speech, and restrictions on physical access to certain sensitive regions of the country.