HRC calls for protecting the right to privacy
It has been described that on August 31, 2007 the Freedom of Information Bill was passed into law by the Legislative Assembly in the Cayman Islands.
Recently, in a wide-ranging pronouncement on the new legislation, the Human Rights Committee (HRC) said that the Freedom of Information Law should be accompanied by constitutional protections for the right to privacy.
The Freedom of Information Law, which will be effective from January 1, 2009, will give the public the right to access most (however, not all) records of government, including statutory authorities and government-owned companies.
The HRC has concerns about the law that may open up information that is to remain confidential. According to the HRC, “there are human rights concerns associated with legislation that provides for freedom of information, particularly where information sought is of a personal nature”; and “this has the potential to impact on the right to privacy and it is important therefore that sufficient guarantees are built into the Freedom of Information legislationâ€.
Nevertheless, the Human Rights Committee emphasized that it treats the Freedom of Information law as a “big step forward for Cayman and the protection of human rights”.