The papers published on this website were delivered at a “Conference on Freedom of Information and Civil Society in Asia” organized by Information Clearinghouse Japan (ICJ) and held in Tokyo on April 13-14, 2001. The conference gathered experts from six countries, including the Republic of Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Republic of the Philippines, and Japan for a lively discussion concerning the role of civil society in promoting citizen participation in debate of public policy and the role of government in providing access to information of importance to this public debate. Participants included academic experts, attorneys, journalists, representatives of NGOs and ordinary citizens.

Timing of the conference was chosen to celebrate Japan`s new information disclosure law, which came into effect on April 1, 2001. It is the sincere hope of ICJ members that the conference and the continuing exchange of information among interested persons will promote the adoption and expansion of freedom of information laws around the world.

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