es or imminent dangers to public health, environment, or safety may be withheld. 4 9. Oversight Bodies. Independent bodies such as an ombudsperson or information commissioner should be established to monitor and hold government bodies and relevant private entities to account on their access to information disclosure practices, to receive and decide upon complaints, and generally oversee the implementation of the access to information legislation. The oversight body should be adequately funded. to ensure the law is fully implemented. This includes internal procedures and processes and the designation of responsible officials. Application of Principles These principles are essential to development, democracy, equality, and the provision of public service, and are applicable to, amongst others, the following: 1. Enabling Environment. Governments should ensure that the legal frameworks create an enabling environment allowing individuals, civil society organisations including trade unions, media organisations, and private businesses to fully enjoy access to information, thus fostering active participation in socio-economic life by all, in particular people living in poverty and those discriminated against or marginalised. 2. Elections and Electoral Processes: 10. Right to Personal Data. All persons have a right to access and correct their personal data held by third parties. 11. Whistleblower Protection. To ensure the free flow of information in the public interest, adequate protections against legal, administrative and employment-related sanctions should be provided for those who disclose information on wrong-doing and other information in the public interest. 12. Right of Appeal. Everyone has a right to appeal administratively any action that hinders or denies access to information or any failure to proactively disclose information. They have a right to further appeal to an independent body and to finally seek judicial review of all limits of their right of access to information. 13. Duty to Collect and Manage Information. Public and relevant private bodies have a duty to collect information on their operations and activities on behalf of their citizens. They also have a duty to respect minimum standards in relation to the management of this information to ensure that it may easily be made accessible to citizens. 14. Duty to Fully Implement. Public and relevant private bodies have an obligation 122 So This is Democracy? 2015 Governments and election management bodies have a positive obligation to provide the public with information before, during and after elections, not to interfere with media coverage, to encourage public participation and proactively publish campaign spending and contributions. 3. Disadvantaged Communities: Governments have a particular obligation to facilitate access to information by disadvantaged minority groups and minority language speakers, as well as 5 marginalised groups including women, children, rural people, the poor and persons with disabilities. Information should be available at no costs to these groups. This especially applies to information that contributes to the long-term empowerment of the groups. Governments also have an obligation to ensure equitable and affordable access to ICTs for those with special needs and for other disadvantaged persons