ECHR News is committed under SPJ Code of Ethics to “recognize a special obligation to ensure that the public’s business is conducted in the open and that government records are open to inspection” and to “avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public.”

ECHR News is gathering information under the article 10 of the Convention, Rec(2002)2, and the national Freedom of Information legislation (FOI) to provide a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. In case of refusal of our request by governments, ECHR News is submitting the case to the national FOI agency or court of law.

Belgium (Law of 11/04/1994) :

FOI agency (CADA) :

1) decision 2011-104 : observations of Belgium to the Committee of Ministers should be communicated to ECHR News ;

2) decision 2011-105 : legal briefs of Belgium at the European Court of Human Rights should be communicated to ECHR News once the Court ruled ;

France (Law 78-753) :

FOI agency (CADA) :

1) decision 2011/0724 : observations of France to the Committee of Ministers shouldn’t be communicated to ECHR News on the ground these documents could “endanger the relationship between France and the Council of Europe” ;

2) decision 2011/0454 : letter informing the detainees of their rights in special detention unit of the hospital of Plouguernével should be communicated to ECHR News ;

3) decision 2011/0 : documents on the protocol to recruit a ECHR judge for France, list of candidate ;

Luxembourg (No Freedom of Information legislation) :

Ombudsman 

2 current cases in mediation ;

Monaco (Executive order 3.413) :

Ombudsman refuses to mediate FOI cases.

3 current cases in mediation ;

Switzerland (Law on Transparency) :

FOI agency (PFPDT) suspended almost all activity until further notice. No recommendation issued within 30 days.

4 current cases in mediation ;