TAI had a successful workshop at the UN DPI NGO meeting on September 5th 2011 in Bonn Germany. The workshop discussed the need to assess progress to date in achieving good national environmental governance. It specifically looked at a change from Principles in the Rio Declaration to Rights and increasing the capacity of citizens and governments to implement principle 10 of the Rio Declaration. Presenters shared their experience in improving national environmental governance through the use of freedom of information laws in Indonesia to access information on pollution in their air and water; public participation mechanisms and judicial forums in EIA hearings in India and the problems and challenges presented; and an update on progress to date around the world in implementing access to information, public participation and access to justice. The workshop addressed the importance of establishing and strengthening the right to information, public participation and access to justice to promote transparency, accountability and inclusion.It discussed possible outcomes for RIO +20 including a global or a regional convention being agreed to by State parties as a prerequisite to filling current gaps in the spread of access rights around the world.

The workshop was moderated by Carole Excell, Senior Associate the Access Initiative, World Resources Institute Speakers included • Ritwick Dutta, LIFE • Dave Banisar, Article 19 • Dyah Paramita, ICEL Respondent • John Matusak, US State Department