Open Government Partnership should foster accountability and social justice
Intended to meet the needs of citizens, the movement has come to embody digital rather than political openness

Jonathan Gray

Senior government officials and campaigners from about 60 countries gathered in London last week for the second annual summit of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). Voluntary commitments were announced on increased political transparency, and talks planned about freedom of information, civic participation, whistleblower protection and corporate accountability.

David Cameron, the British prime minister, opened the event with an announcement that the UK would crack down on hidden company ownership – a move widely celebrated by transparency, anti-corruption and tax justice campaigners.

Elaborate networks of shell companies are often used for illicit and unethical activities including arms trafficking, terrorist financing, illegal tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance. Making the true owners of companies part of the public record will enable journalists, campaigners and others outside government to expose these dark networks and the money that flows through them.

Cameron emphasised the importance of open government for economic growth and innovation. Alluding to the work of Amartya Sen, he contended that open governments were conducive to economic prosperity, whereas "closed governments breed poverty".

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Continua qui: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/nov/04/open-government-social-justice-david-cameron