OSCE media freedom representative receives Chydenius medal
HELSINKI, 2 December 2008 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, received the Chydenius medal in Helsinki today for his work to promote access to governmental information.
The medal for 'merit in promotion of openness internationally' was handed to him by bishop Gustav Bjorkstrand, the Chairman of the Board of the Anders Chydenius Foundation.
"I am honoured to receive the Chydenius medal here in Finland, the home of the first freedom of information law of 1766 and of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. Both documents established important principles of openness and pluralism vital for all OSCE democracies," said Haraszti.
The Chydenius medal for Openness Merits was established by the Anders Chydenius Foundation. It marks outstanding activities on the international level that promote the Nordic principle of public access to governmental information.
Anders Chydenius, a Finnish enlightenment thinker and politician (1729-1803) played a crucial role in creating the world's first Freedom of Information Act in the Diet of Sweden-Finland in 1766.
Finland and Sweden celebrate 2 December as "Freedom of Information Day".