• Article 13 of the Lebanese Constitution acknowledges oral and written freedom of expression, but to date, there is no law guaranteeing access to information or protection for whistleblowers, those individuals who report corruption.

• ‘The National Network for the Right of Access to Information’ has drafted a law on Access to Information that was submitted to Lebanese parliament on April 9, 2009, by members of the Lebanese Parliamentarians Against Corruption organization (LebPAC).[1]

• The Legal Working Group (LWG) of the Network used as reference material the “Citizen’s Right to Know” draft law that the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform initially prepared in 2001 and subsequently revised in the following years, and submitted to the Council of Ministers in 2006 and again in 2008 for approval. The LWG of the Network is also drafting a Whistleblower Protection law.

• In May 2009, the LebPAC and Nahwa al Muwatiniya (Na’am), ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) partner organizations and members of the ABA ROLI-supported National Network for the Right of Access to Information, began a campaign encouraging members of parliament to support the country’s access to information bill.[1]

• Nahar Ash Shabab, A Lebanese Society, organized in cooperation with the American Bar Association and National Network for the Right of Access a workshop on drafts of the Access to Information Law and the Law on Protection of Whistleblowers.[2]

• On September 30, 2009, the National Network for the Right of Access to Information held a press conference in celebration of the International Right to Know Day.[3]

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• [1] See, Lebanese National Anti-Corruption Network Advocates Parliament to Support Access to Information Bill,  (English) http://www.abanet.org/rol/news/news_lebanon_access_information_bill_support_1009.shtml

• [2] Also, Access to Information and Protection of Whistleblowers, Now Lebanon, July 22, 2009. http://nowlebanon.com/Arabic/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=105058 (Arabic)

• [3] Lebanon Celebrates International Right to Know Day, (English) 

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