Workshop on Freedom of Information: From Theory to Practice Achieving a culture of openness and compliance with information rights within government 21 May Jerusalem Graham Smith Deputy Commissioner and Director of FOI

3 “E”s Education Encouragement Enforcement

Awareness Rights and obligations Content of FOI law Background to FOI law Policy objectives Experience of other jurisdictions

Benefits of transparency Citizen engagement Empowerment Accountability Trust

Approaches to transparency Proactive transparency Open data Publication schemes Reactive transparency Requests for information

Learning from experience Reasoned explanations for decisions Refusal notices Disclosure logs ICO decision notices Tribunal and court decisions

Sharing experience Networks Conferences and events On-line resources Social media

Leadership Political leadership Executive leadership Networked leadership Transparency champions Stressing positive outcomes Managing expectations

Opportunities Communication strategies A vehicle for effecting change Records management Business benefits Link to service delivery New approaches to old problems

Things to avoid Over-legalistic approach Bureaucratic mindset Ownership issues – it’s public information All or nothing Risk aversion Victim mentality

Context and forward look Technology Consumer and societal expectations Social media Take charge of the agenda Global trends International examples

Enforcement Consequences of non-compliance Law and practicality Proportionality What’s achievable Small steps or shock treatment Articulate policy

Link to Education Publish and publicise outcomes Explaining decisions Building jurisprudence Demonstrate public interest Learn from your mistakes Learn from others’ mistakes

Conclusions Education, encouragement and enforcement Augmented by experience Transparency is not an end in itself Link to public service and citizenship Culture change does not happen overnight Approach to compliance drives culture change

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