Title: The Right to information in Latin America: a comparative legal survey
Author: Toby Mendel
Pages: 164 pp.
Publisher: UNESCO, Quito office
Date published: 2009
Date accessed: 26/07/2009
Type of information: book
Language: English, Spanish
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
UNESCO’s Office in Quito releases a legal survey on the right to information in Latin America, comparing the currently existing laws in 11 Latin American countries: Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. Conducted by Toby Mendel, this study confirms UNESCO’s commitment to promote the right to information, in line with its strategic objective of enhancing universal access to information and knowledge.
Those tasked with drafting or promoting legislation guaranteeing the right to information face a number of challenges. How should the regime of exceptions be crafted so as to strike an appropriate balance between the right to know and the need for secrecy to protect certain key public and private interests? How extensive should the obligation to publish and disseminate information be and how can the law ensure that this obligation grows in line with technological developments? What procedures for requesting information can balance the need for timely, inexpensive access against the pressures and resource constraints facing civil servants? What right of appeal should individuals have when their requests for information have been refused? Which positive measures need to be taken to change the culture of secrecy that pervades the public administration in so many countries and to inform the public about this right?

Title: Research and Information Technology Connectivity - Opportunities for Innovation and Issues for Africa
Author: Olusola Oyewole
Pages: 8 pp.
Source: UNESCO Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge. Workshop on Research in Diverse Social Contexts:Tensions, Dynamics and Challenges, (UNESCO, Paris, 19-21 March 2009)
Publisher: UNESCO
Date published: 2009
Date accessed: 26/07/2009
Type of information: workshop paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
"The importance of knowledge as a critical element of sustainable development in today’s competitive global economy is well known. People and nations therefore need to be challenged to create, access and employ knowledge to be able to meet the challenges of life and survive in our ever-changing world. This challenge cannot be met if the quest for knowledge through research is not attended to. Higher Education Institutions especially Universities have for all time been identified as the space for generating knowledge through research. Unfortunately, for many African countries, higher education had witnessed a long period of relative neglect and stagnation...In order to improve the effectiveness of African research and educational systems, the Information Communicational Technology (ICT) of these institutions need to be improved."

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. State of Information Communicational Technology (ICT) Infrastructures in Africa
3. Challenges of Information Technology in Africa
(a) The Bandwidth Limitations
(b) Bandwidth Management
(c) Human resources
(d) Policy and regulatory Challenge
(e) Poor Networking and Lack of Regional Collaborations and Cooperation:
4. Opportunities for Innovation and Issues
(a) Promote Global, Regional Links and Collaborations:
(b) Address problems of energy generation in many countries of Africa
(c) Leadership education
(d) Improved funding for research