Access to Information

1. What is access to information?

A. Access to information forms a part of the right to freedom of expressionB. Access to information is the ability to seek, receive, and impart information effectively C. Answers A & B

2. What is the right to seek information?

A. The right to share and disseminate informationB. The right to request information from State and private institutionsC. The right of individuals to access general information and, more particularly, information of public interest that can contribute to public debate.

3. What is right to receive information?

A. The right to share and disseminate informationB. The right to request information and state institutions must be proactive in disseminating information widely in the public interestC. The right to receive private information from individuals

4. What is right to impart information?

A. The right to share and disseminate informationB. The right to share confidential information of national interest to foreignersC. The right to share private information with everyone

5. Access to information is upheld under Cambodian law and international human rights law in order to ensure the public can access information.

A. TRUEB. FALSE

6. Khmer citizens have the rights to freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of publication and assembly. Which article of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia protects these rights?

A. Article 31B. Article 40C. Article 41

7. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”

A. TRUEB. FALSE

8. Article 19 in paragraph 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states, “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.”

A. TRUEB. FALSE

9. To give effect to the right of access to information, States should also enact the necessary procedures to improve access to information that is of public interest and ensure easy, prompt, effective and practical access to such information.

A. TRUEB. FALSE

10. What is the State’s obligation for access to information?

A. To create an information unit within each governmental institution, both at national and sub-national levelB. To encourage specialized units under the institution itself to cooperate and take responsibility to search and provide the information to those who request itC. To assist all persons who seek informationD. Answers A, B, & C

11. The right of citizens to access information applies to all information under possession, custody or control of public institutions under the principle of maximum disclosure.

A. TRUEB. FALSE

12. What information can citizens access?

A. Public institutions’ development plan for infrastructure and all sectorsB. Laws, regulations, policies, decisions, and duties of public institutions relating to rights, freedoms, obligations, and public interestC. Annual budget plans of the institution approved by the legislature and its annual expenditure and audit reportsD. Answers A, B, & C

13. What are the reasons for protecting legitimate interests in restricting access to information?

A. The respect of the rights or reputations of othersB. The protection of national security or of public order or of public health or moralsC. Answers A & B

14. Mister A wants to access information pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Cambodia from the Ministry of Health. He wants to know how many patients there are and the locations where transmissions have occurred. Can the Ministry of Health refuse to provide information to Mister A?

A. The Ministry can reject it because it is information that affects public orderB. The Ministry can reject it because it is information that affects national securityC. The Ministry cannot reject it because it is information that affects public health

15. Access to information enables all citizens to detect violations of citizens’ rights and establishes and supports the democratic and participatory practice of governance.

A. TRUEB. FALSE

Quiz: Access to Information

1. What is access to information?

2. What is the right to seek information?

3. What is right to receive information?

4. What is right to impart information?

5. Access to information is upheld under Cambodian law and international human rights law in order to ensure the public can access information.

6. Khmer citizens have the rights to freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of publication and assembly. Which article of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia protects these rights?

7. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”

9. To give effect to the right of access to information, States should also enact the necessary procedures to improve access to information that is of public interest and ensure easy, prompt, effective and practical access to such information.

10. What is the State’s obligation for access to information?

11. The right of citizens to access information applies to all information under possession, custody or control of public institutions under the principle of maximum disclosure.

12. What information can citizens access?

13. What are the reasons for protecting legitimate interests in restricting access to information?

14. Mister A wants to access information pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 in Cambodia from the Ministry of Health. He wants to know how many patients there are and the locations where transmissions have occurred. Can the Ministry of Health refuse to provide information to Mister A?

15. Access to information enables all citizens to detect violations of citizens’ rights and establishes and supports the democratic and participatory practice of governance.