The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ruled on 11 October 2006 (Claude Reyes and others vs. Chile) that there is a general right of access to information held by government This is the first such ruling from an international tribunal. The case originates in a request for information made in 1998 by three environmental activists about a controversial logging project; no information was provided nor a reasoned refusal.

The judgment also makes clear that, to give full effect to this right, states must adopt legal and other provisions which ensure effective exercise of the right to information as well as define limited exemptions to be applied so as to minimise restrictions of this right. The Court further requires the Chilean state to train public officials on the right to information and the international standards for exemptions.

The attached document provides a non official English translation of the judgment, provided by Open Society Justice Initiative. The Spanish original version of the judgment can be found at: http://www.corteidh.or.cr/casos.cfm?idCaso=245