The Role of Intergovernmental Organisations and Regional Conventions in Promoting Access to Environmental Information.

13:45 – 15:00 | Panel 2: The Role of Intergovernmental Organisations and Regional Conventions in Promoting Access to Environmental Information.

 Description: The two panels will discuss different international standards-setting instruments, such as the Escazú Agreement & the Aarhus Convention, OECD and UNESCAP policies and the ATI Model Law for Small Island Developing States, aimed at strengthening the right to information on the regional level.

A. Regional Frameworks in Action: Escazú, Aarhus, and Beyond.

Moderator: Mr Gilbert Sendugwa, Executive Director, African Freedom of Information Centre (Uganda) Speakers: • Ms Patricia Madrigal Cordero, Chair CSICEscazú Agreement (Costa Rica) • Ms Pansy Tlakula, Information and Privacy Commissioner (South Africa) • Ms Noriko Okubo, Co-leader of the Green Access Project, Osaka University (Japan) • Ms Marie Whelan, Policy Analyst, Innovative, Digital & Open Government Division (OECD) • Mr Manuel Castillo, Environmental Affairs Officer, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) 

Rapporteur: Ms Ma‘aly Hazzaz, CI Advisor (UNESCO) 

B. Small Islands, Big Challenges: Environmental Information for Climate Resilience.

Moderator: Mr. Ramon Tuazon, Secretary General, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (Philippines) Speakers: • Ms Elizabeth Tydd, Information Commissioner (Australia) • Mr Ahmed Ahid Rasheed, Information Commissioner (Maldives) • Ms Josephine Joseph, Assistant AG, FSM Department of Justice (Micronesia) • Mr Toby Mendel, Executive Director, Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada) Rapporteur: Ms Rocelle Ago, Assistant Commissioner, RTI Commission (Australia)