Kaleidoscope

• Alston, Philip

Abstract

Starting in 2000, the United Nations has begun to charge a hefty user fee to anyone, other than governments and diplomats, wishing to obtain access to its official electronic database of treaty information, which includes the texts of treaties, the list of states parties, and the official texts of reservations, etc. This new policy is not only entirely out of line with the approach applied more generally by the UN, but also with that of virtually every other international organization. Given the nature of the information as a public good and the strong policy arguments in favour of maximum dissemination and the ready accessibility of such information, the new policy is perverse and should be urgently reconsidered.