Environmental Governance and Democratic Accountability: An International Legal Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/ldi.3.1.2025.1319Keywords:
Access To Information, Democratic Governance, Transparency, Accountability, Uncac, Tromsø ConventionAbstract
Access to information is a fundamental component of democratic governance because it supports transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and institutional legitimacy. This study examines the relationship between access to information and democratic governance through a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) based on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Tromsø Convention. Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, relevant literature published between 2020 and 2025 was systematically reviewed. The findings indicate that access to information strengthens democratic governance by improving transparency, enhancing public accountability, promoting informed citizen participation, and increasing public trust in institutions. However, challenges related to misinformation, artificial intelligence governance, digital transparency, and information inequality continue to affect information governance. The study concludes that effective access-to-information frameworks remain essential for sustaining democratic governance and accountability.
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