Parliamentary Panel on the occasion of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)

From 17-11-2006 to 17-11-2006 (Tunis) 

On the occasion of the WSIS, a Parliamentary Panel, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies and UNESCO, was held on Thursday 17 November 2005, in Tunis. This meeting examined the special role of Parliaments in building knowledge societies with a particular focus on the question of access to information.

The issue was considered from two angles:

parliaments’ ability to obtain information they need for their work;

legislation guaranteeing citizens' rights of access to information.

In conclusion of this event, 70 members of parliament coming from about thirty countries agreed on the need for a legislative framework for access to information for all and the functioning of a body to monitor the follow-up of the decisions of the WSIS within Parliaments.