25 February 2015: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is requesting comments on its Access-to-Information-Policy, which contains the principles and procedures governing access to information at UNEP. The policy was issued on 6 June 2014, and is currently in a pilot phase. According to UNEP, it seeks to make accessible the information concerning UNEP’s work and the information it generates, in a manner consistent with the relevant policies and practices of the UN Secretariat.

The policy provides a non-exhaustive list of documents and projects that will be made available to the public, and specifies the type of information and documents for which UNEP cannot provide access (such as information whose disclosure is likely to endanger the safety or security of any individual).

The Access-to-Information Policy includes information on modalities for requests for information, review and appeal, and the Access-to-Information Panel, which is mandated to assist UNEP’s Executive Director in monitoring the implementation of the Policy, and to consider and review appeals relating to a request for information.

UNEP established the policy in accordance with paragraph 17 of Governing Council decision 27/2 of 27 February 2013 on the implementation of paragraph 88 of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). The policy is subject to review within one year of its establishment. During this interim period, contents of the Policy will be further considered within the UNEP Secretariat for possible refinement.

UNEP first requested comments in November 2014, and recently extended the deadline to 31 March 2015. [UNEP Access-to-Information Policy] [Call for Comments]