28. November 2003.

Dear Mr. Keim,  

I am writing on the request of the Commissioner for Human Rights to thank you for the information you forwarded us regarding access to information in Germany. 
As you are aware the Commissioner is not mandated to examine or intervene in individual cases. 
He is however, interested in all information identifying structural or recurring human rights violations. 
Your information falls into this category and will be examined as such in the context of the preparation of a future visit of the Commissioner for Human Rights to Germany.

Yours sincerely,
(...)
Private Secretary to the Commissioner for Human Rights (CoE)

Comment of W. Keim: Who will invite the Commissioner for Human Rights: the government, the BMJ, the Committee of Petitions, the Committee of Human Rights, the Deutsche Institut für Menschenrechte (Human Rights Institute), the Forum für Menschenrechte, Menschenrechtszentrum der Universität Potsdam or the UN?

Result:

• 26. December 2003: My answer to survey on access to public documents in Europe.
• 19 August 2004: Analysis of replies to the questionnaire on the implementation of Recommendation Rec(2002)2 on access to official documents
• STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (CDDH), 60th meeting 14-17 June 2005: Point 5.3: The CDDH is to prepare a legally binding instrument on access to official documents and to submit an interim report by 30 April 2006.
• January 2006: Germany votes against binding convention.
• 14 February 2006 DH-S-AC(2006)004 STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (CDDH) confirms binding convention
• 3. April 2006: Access Info Europe suggests to give a convention.
• 12 April 2007 CDDH (2006)007: Item 4.2: Work on binding convention confirmed.
• Will German representatives for human rights support FOI? (Werden die Menschenrechtsbeauftragten der Bundesregierung die Arbeit an einer bindenden Konvention unterstützen?)
• Will the freedom of information and data commissioner support a convention? (Rat des Büro des Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Menschenrechtspolitik und Humanitäre Hilfe im Auswärtigen Amt vom 20.9.06 bezüglich Informationsfreiheit)
• 05.June 2006: FOI in Germany: Six Months After Implementation: Last slide: Federal government does not favour binding convention
• 10. July 2006: Sdruženi Jihoceské Matky v. Czech Republic, Decision of  ECHR (Admissibility). Access to information. http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/echr-19101-03.htm
• 19. September 2006: Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Claude v. Chile: Confirms Right of Access to Government Information
• 16. October 2006: Justice Initiative Intervenes in Strasbourg Freedom of Information Case: Application no. 11721/04. GERAGUYN KHORHURD PATGAMAVORAKAN AKUMB v. ARMENIA.
• October 2006: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights begins official visit to Germany.
• November 2006: What will the Commissioner for Human Rights report on Germany? http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/coe-0611.htm
• 2007: CDDH: Project 2004/DG2/74 “Guaranteeing the right of the public to have access to official documents”: http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/project_2004dg274.htm
• Report by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, on his visit to Germany, 9 – 11 and 15 – 20 October 2006: http://wkeim.bplaced.net/files/Bericht-des-Menschenrechtskommissars.html: German Human Rights Institute should monitor, development of national action plan on human rights.
• 2012: Report about reactions of committees for petitions in Germany.

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Colours on picture: dark green: FOIA enacted. Yellow: pending law. FOIA= Freedom of Information Act