By Indicator detail

Please find below the lists of indicators that have been used to analyse each law. You can click on each of them and you will get the result for that indicator in each country.

Country	Description	Scoring instructions	Max score	Finding	Points	Article	Comments
Afghanistan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	13(1) Public information Officer shall perform the following duties: 1-Explain the Information Request Form to the applicant and in case of demand, provide written explanation on paper or electronically. 2-Provide Information Request Form to the applicant and assist him or her based on provisions of this law and other relevant regulations. 13(3) Where an institution requires further clarification in order to identify the information sought, the Public Information Officer shall work with the applicant to clarify the request.
Albania	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	12(1) When the public authority, who has received the information request, is unclear about the content and the nature of the request, it contacts the applicant immediately, but no later than 48 hours from the date of the received request, to ask for necessary explanations. In all cases, the public authority shall assist the applicant in clarifying the request.	If the public authority is unclear about the content of the request shall contact in less than 48 the applicant. Furthermore, in all cases, the public authority shall assist the applicant in clarifying the request.
Antigua and Barbuda	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	17(2) Where a request for information does not comply with the provisions of subsection (1), the official who receives the request shall, subject to subsection (6), render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as may be necessary to enable the request to comply with subsection (1).
Armenia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	13(2) Person responsible for the Freedom of information according to the law: (b) explains thoroughly the procedures, conditions and forms of providing information to the person seeking information, Decree N1204 of 2015	General requirement to explain the rules but elaborated on in a 2015 Decree which sets more precise rules
Australia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	15 (3) Where a person: (a) wishes to make a request to an agency; or (b) has made to an agency a request that does not comply with this section; it is the duty of the agency to take reasonable steps to assist the person to make the request in a manner that complies with this section.
Azerbaijan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	10.4. Information owner:...10.4.5. must assist the applicant; Article 17. Obligation of the owner of information to assist the requester 17.1. The owner of the information must clearly explain to the requester the terms, rules and methods of obtaining the information. 17.2. If the owner of the information does not have the requested information, he should assist the requester in locating it. 17.3. If the request does not specify what information is obtained or in what form this information is provided, the official must contact the applicant in order to clarify this in the manner prescribed by this Law. 17.4. An oral request of those who are unable to apply due to illiteracy or physical disability shall be made in writing by the officials of the owner of the information, indicating their names and positions, and shall be registered with the date.	Broad obligations to assist, including to clarify requests and to reduce oral requests to writing for illiterate or disabled requesters
Bahamas	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Section 7. Application for access. (3) A public authority shall— (b) if requested, assist the applicant in identifying the records to which the application relates; (c) where the information provided by the applicant is not reasonably adequate to identify the record, afford the applicant a reasonable opportunity to consult with the authority with a view to reformulating the application so that the record can be identified. See also 46(1)(b), requiring information officers to assist.
Belize	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	SECTION 12(4) & (5) (4) It is the duty of a Ministry or prescribed authority, where practicable, to assist a person who wishes to make a request, or has made a request that does not comply with this section or has not been directed to the appropriate Ministry or prescribed authority, to make a request in a manner that complies with this section or to direct a request to the appropriate Ministry or specified authority. (5) Where a request in writing is made to a Ministry or prescribed authority for access to a document, the Ministry or prescribed authority, as the case may be, shall not refuse to comply with the request on the ground- (a) that the request does not comply with subsection (2); or (b) that, in the case of a request of the kind referred to in subsection (3), compliance with the request would interfere unreasonably with the operations of the Ministry or prescribed authority, as the case may be, without first giving the applicant a reasonable opportumty of consultation with the Ministry or prescribed authority with a view to the making of a request in a form that would remove the ground for refusal.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 11 Submission of a Request "1. A request for access to information shall be submitted to the public authority the requester believes is the competent authority. 2. A request for access to information shall: a. be in writing in one of the official languages of the Federation; provide sufficient detail as to the nature and/or contents of the information sought so as to enable the public authority exercising a reasonable effort to locate the requested information; and c. include the requester's name and address."
Burkina Faso	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 14: Lorsque la demande n'est pas précise ou si le demandeur le sollicite, le responsable du service chargé de l’accès au document ou à l’information doit lui prêter assistance.
Canada	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	4(2.1) The head of a government institution shall, without regard to the identity of a person making a request for access to a record under the control of the institution, make every reasonable effort to assist the person in connection with the request, respond to the request accurately and completely and, subject to the regulations, provide timely access to the record in the format requested.
Cape Verde	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	6(5) The bodies and entities to which this law applies are responsible for providing assistance to the public in identifying and consulting the documents and data required. (6) If the request is not sufficiently precise, the requested entity must, within a period of ten days, from the date of its receipt, indicate the deficiency to the applicant and invite him to remedy it within a period established for the purpose, and seek to assist you in its formulation, by providing, namely, information on the use of your files and records.
China	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	28 Administrative organs provided for in article 27 of this Regulation shall establish and improve channels for applying for disclosure of government information, and facilitate applicants' lawfully obtaining government information. 30 Where the government information content applied for is unclear, administrative organs shall give guidance and explanations, and inform the applicant once within 7 days of receiving the application to supplement it, explaining the matters that need to be supplemented and a reasonable time for supplementing. The response period for response is calculated from the date on which administrative organs receive supplemented applications。 Where the applicant exceeds the period for corrections without legitimate reason, it is viewed as forfeiting the application, and the administrative organs are no longer to handle the that open government information request.
Colombia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 7: Information .Disponibilidad. Under this policy, and shall be available to the public the information referred to in this law, through physical, local or remote electronic media. The obligors shall make available to interested persons such information on the Web, so that they can get the information, directly or through printouts. In addition, they must provide support to users who require it and provide all kinds of assistance in the procedures and services rendered. Paragraph. Television broadcasting internet in any case is allowed when content is public information state agencies or news about it.	Article 7 of law 1712 of 2014 requires officials to provide "all kinds of assistance" as needed. According to our reviewer, this should be interpreted systematically to apply to the law as a whole as a result of Art 3.
Cook Islands	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	12. Assistance– It is the duty of every Ministry, Minister of the Crown, and organisation to give reasonable assistance to a person, who - (a) wishes to make a request in accordance with section 11 of this Act; or (b) in making a request under section 11 of this Act, has not made that request in accordance with that section; or (c) has not made his or her request to the appropriate Ministry or Minister of the Crown or organisation, to make a request in a manner that is in accordance with that section or to direct his or her request to the appropriate Ministry or Minister of the Crown or organisation.
Croatia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art.13.3.3.: Information officer: shall provide the necessary assistance to applicants, in relation to exercising of the rights specified under this Law. Art.20.2.: In case of incomplete or incomprehensible request, the public authority body shall without delay conctact the in order to make corrections within 5 days from the day of receiving the instructions to make corrections.	Officer for Information in every public body is obliged to provide assistance, but he/she could can also formally ask the request to be changed or clarified.
Dominican Republic	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	ARTICLE 7. Paragraph 1. Si la solicitud no contiene todos los datos requeridos, la Administración deberá hacérselo saber al solicitante a fin de que corrija y complete los datos, para ello contará el ciudadano con el apoyo de la oficina correspondiente designada por el órgano de la Administración para recibir las solicitudes.
El Salvador	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	ARTICLE 50 "El Oficial de Información tendrá las funciones siguientes: (...) c. Auxiliar a los particulares en la elaboración de solicitudes y, en su caso, orientarlos sobre las dependencias o entidades que pudieran tener la información que solicitan.(...)"	Art 50(c) requires info officers to help individuals make applications. Art 66 has clarification procedures.
Estonia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	13. Manners of making requests for information "A person making a request for information shall make the request for information either: 1) orally, addressing a holder of information directly or by telephone, or 2) in writing, delivering a request for information personally or communicating it by post, fax or electronic mail."
Ethiopia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	27(2) the request is insufficiently precise to enable the information sought to be identified, and the requester has failed to reframe his request even though the public relations officer has provided him with assistance to this end.	27(2) implies a duty to clarify and assist.
Fiji	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 12(1) A public agency to which a request has been forwarded by the Commission under section 8 or 10 must - (a) render effective and timely assistance; [...] Article 36(2) The information officer must - [...] (c) assist persons seeking information or the correction or deletion of information under this Act; [...]	Rather general but points given.
Finland	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	[Principles of Openness] Article 13(1) A request for access to an official document shall be sufficiently detailed, so that the authority can determine which document the request concerns. The person requesting access shall be assisted, by means of official diaries and indexes, to specify the document to which access is being requested. The person requesting access need not identify himself/herself nor provide reasons for the request, unless this is necessary for the exercise of the authority's discretion or for determining if the person requesting access has the right of access to the document. (2) When requesting access to a secret document, a personal data filing system controlled by an authority or any other document, access to which can be granted only subject to certain conditions, the person requesting access shall, unless specifically otherwise provided, declare the use to which the information is to be put, as well as give the other details necessary for determining whether the conditions have been met and, where necessary. [Administrative Procedure Act of Finland] Article 8(1) An authority shall provide to its customers the necessary advice, within its competence, for taking care of administrative matters; as well as respond to the questions and queries on its service. Advice shall be provided free of charge.
France	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 42 et 44 du decret 2005/755.
Gambia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	13 (1) Where a person - (a) wishes to make a request to an information holder; or (b) has made a request to an information holder that does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the Information Officer shall take all necessary steps to assist the person, free of charge, to make the request in a manner that complies with this Act.
Ghana	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	18(5) Where an application does not sufficiently describe the information required, the public institution to which the application is made shall so inform the applicant and offer the applicant the necessary assistance to identify the information. 45(2) In promoting awareness of the right to information, the Commission shall (e) assist an applicant and public institution on matters of interpretation of the Act;	Where request is not clear, assistance must be provided; Commission also required to assist applicants
Guyana	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	17. The Commissioner of Information, in collaboration with the relevant public authority, shall take reasonable steps to assist any person who - (a) wishes to make a request under section 16; or (b) has made a request which does not comply with the requirements of section 16(2), and shall afford that person an opportunity, to make a request in a manner which complies with that section.	17 - any reasonable assistance.
Iceland	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 10. Anyone requesting access to material shall specify the particular material which they wish to study. On the other hand, they may request to study all of the material on a certain matter without specifying any particular material concerning it. A government authority may stipulate that a request for access to material be made in writing, as well as being submitted on a form provided by the authority. When access is requested to material concerning an issue in which a decision is to be taken or has been taken on individual rights or obligations, the request shall be directed to the government authority which has taken or is due to take a decision on the issue. In other instances, the request shall be directed to the authority safekeeping the material.	Assistance must be given.
India	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 5(3) Every Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the persons seeking such information. Article 6(1) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Act, shall make a request in writing or through electronic means in English or Hindi or in the official language of the area in which the application is being made, accompanying such fee as may be prescribed, to (a) the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, of the concerned public authority; (b) the Central Assistant Public Information Officer or State Assistant Public Information Officer, as the case may be, specifying the particulars of the information sought by him or her: Provided that where such request cannot be made in writing, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing.
Ireland	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 11(2) An FOI body shall give reasonable assistance to a person who is seeking a record under this Act - (a) in relation to the making of the FOI request for access to the record, and (b) if the person has a disability, so as to facilitate the exercise by the person of his or her rights under this Act. Article 15(4) A head shall not refuse, pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1), to grant an FOI request unless he or she has assisted, or offered to assist, the requester concerned in an endeavour so as to amend the request for re-submission such that it no longer falls within those paragraphs.
Ivory Coast	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	11. Toute personne qui souhaite accéder aux informations et aux documents publics présente une requête écrite à l’organisme concerné dans laquelle elle décline son identité et sa qualité. La requête est rédigée en langue française et comporte des données permettant raisonnablement d’identifier l’information recherchée. Un accusé de réception est délivré au requérant. Lorsque la demande n’est pas suffisamment précise ou lorsqu’une personne requiert une assistance pour identifier le document susceptible de contenir les renseignements recherchés, le responsable est tenu de lui prêter son concours. Le requérant n’est pas tenu de motiver sa demande.
Jamaica	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 7(3) A public authority to which an application is made shall - (a) upon request, assist the applicant in identifying the documents to which the application relates; (b) acknowledge receipt of every application in the prescribed manner; (c) grant to the applicant, access to the document specified in the application if it is not an exempt document. Article 10(1) Where the information provided by the applicant in relation to the document is not such as is reasonably necessary to enable the public authority to identify it, the authority shall afford the applicant a reasonable opportunity to consult with the authority with a view to reformulating the application so that the document can be identified.	7(3) and 10(1) - requirement for officials to assist applicant in identifying document and/or reformulating request.
Japan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	4 (Procedure for a Disclosure Request) (2) When the head of an Administrative Organ finds that there is a deficiency in the form of the Written Disclosure Request, he or she may, setting a reasonable period of time, ask the person having made the Disclosure Request (hereinafter referred to as the "Disclosure Requester.") to amend the request. In this case, the head of the Administrative Organ shall endeavor to provide the Disclosure Requester with information that will be helpful in the amendment.	Article 4(2).
Kosovo	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	10(6) If the request is not sufficiently accurate and does not enable the identification of the public document required, the public institution shall ask the applicant to clarify the request and may assist the applicant to do so. (8) Public institutions shall provide the persons with assistance on how and where to submit the requests for access to public documents. 11(5) The public institution shall assist the applicant, as far as possible and reasonable, to identify the requested document.
Lebanon	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 14: Submitting the request: D – If the request was not sufficiently precise, the appointed employee shall ask the person who submitted it for the necessary clarifications and shall assist him by all means available.
Liberia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	3.6: "Designation of at least one personnel / staff: Every public authority and private entity to which this Act applies shall appoint, maintain and duly support at least one designated personnel/staff whose overall responsibility shall be to receive requests for information held by the authority or entity and coordinate the response(s) of the authority or entity to all such requests. The designated personnel / staff shall serve as the primary contact of the authority or agency with the public relative to request for and provision of information, and his responsibilities shall include promoting best practices in record maintenance, storage, and management, and assisting members of the public, especially illiterate and other physically challenged persons, to file requests for information."
Malawi	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	12(1) Every information holder shall, within twelve months from the commencement of this Act,- (a) designate or appoint one or more of its officers as information officers; and (b) establish processes and procedures for handling all obligations under this Act. (2) Every information officer designated or appointed under subsection (1), shall, in addition to handling all requests for information made pursuant to section 18, render assistance to any person seeking such information and ensure compliance by the institution with all obligations under this Act, including the obligation to disclose all categories of information listed under section 15.
Maldives	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	8(a) A request for information from a State Institute may be declined for failure to provide the necessary information in the application, as required in this Act. However, a request may be so declined only after notifying the applicant and providing the applicant an opportunity to complete all the information required for an application in compliance with this Act, and after offering assistance to help the applicant comply with the requirements of the Act. If the applicant still fails to comply with the stipulations required for an application under this Act. 36(c)(2) Each Information Officer of a State Institute shall bear the highest responsibility of disclosing information requested under this Act, and for assisting individuals seeking to obtain information, and to make decisions regarding requests made under section 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 of this Act.
Malta	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art. 7. "Where an eligible person - (a) wishes to make a request to a public authority; or (b) has made to a public authority a request that does not comply with article 6, it is the duty of the public authority to take reasonable steps to assist the person to make the request in a manner that complies with article 6, and it shall do so at no charge."
Mexico	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 121. Transparency Units of the regulated entities shall ensure the measures and accessibility so that every person may enforce the right of access to information through information requests, and shall assist the applicant in the preparation thereof, in accordance with the bases established in this Title. Article 127. Exceptionally, when grounded and motivated, as determined by the regulated entity, in cases where the requested information already in their possession involves analysis, study or processing of Documents which delivery or reproduction exceeds the technical capacity the regulated entity to comply with the request within the time limits for such purposes, direct consultation Documents, except classifed information, may be made available to the applicant. In any case its simple or certified copy shall be provided, as well as the reproduction by any means available in the premises of the regulated entity or, where appropriate, provided by the applicant.
Moldova	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	11. Obligations of information providers (2) In order to guarantee free access to official information, the information provider (d) will grant necessary assistance and help to information solicitors for the search and identification of information. 12. Requesting access to official information (4) The request may be made verbally when the answer is positive and the requested information can be provided instantly. If the information provider intends to deny access to the requested information, he/she must inform the information solicitor about that and offer him/her the possibility to write a request.	Rather general obligation to assist but probably sufficient.
Montenegro	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 17: "If any request for the information is incomplete or indistinct and, therefore, it cannot be acted upon, any government agency shall be in obligation to invite any applicant to eliminate deficiencies therein within eight day as of the day of delivering the notification thereof, whereby such government agency shall give necessary instructions for eliminating such deficiencies. In case deficiencies shown in a request for the information have not been eliminated within the prescribed deadline by its applicant, any relevant government agency shall reject such request by a conclusion. It shall be in obligation to notify any such applicant of such consequence, in its notification instructing elimination of such request deficiencies. In the case referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the deadline for making resolution thereupon shall commence on the third day after submission date of any corrected request."
Namibia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	36(1) If a person - (a) wishes to make a request for access to information to an information holder; or (b) has made a request for access to information to an information holder that does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the information officer must take all necessary steps to assist the person, free of charge, to make the request in a manner that complies with this Act. (2) If a person with a disability wishes to make a request for access to information, an information officer must - (a) take all necessary steps to assist the person to make the request in a manner that complies with this Act and meets his or her needs; and (b) provide information in accessible communication format and technologies as chosen by the requester and appropriate to his or her kind of disability in a timely manner and without additional cost.
New Zealand	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	13 Assistance It is the duty of every department, Minister of the Crown, and organisation to give reasonable assistance to a person, who— (a) wishes to make a request in accordance with section 12; or (b) in making a request under section 12, has not made that request in accordance with that section; or (c) has not made his request to the appropriate department or Minister of the Crown or organisation or local authority,— to make a request in a manner that is in accordance with that section or to direct his request to the appropriate department or Minister of the Crown or organisation or local authority.	Section 13
Nicaragua	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Artículo 11.- Tanto el servidor público que se encuentre a cargo de la Oficina de Acceso a la Información Pública, como el personal calificado a su cargo, brindarán sus mejores esfuerzos para facilitar y hacer posible a los ciudadanos la localización y el acceso a la información solicitada. También facilitarán la impresión del documento para su inmediata consulta, o copia o fotocopia a costa del solicitante, también dispondrán la venta al público por un precio que no podrá superar el costo de edición.	Art 11 - for assistance, Art 27 for consultation.
North Macedonia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art 11. "In order to provide for free access to information, the responsible person with the information holder shall be bound to provide to information requesters premises in which the latter may have insight to information requested, and officials in charge of information mediation shall be bound to assist information requesters in their requesting information in accordance with the present Law and with other laws."
Norway	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Public Administration Act Â§ 11. (duty to provide guidance) "The administrative agencies have, within their sphere of competence, a general duty to provide guidance.<...>"
Pakistan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	10(2) A designated official shall, as may be prescribed, assist applicant who is having problems due to any disability in describing the information sought in sufficient detail to enable the public body to locate that information; 13(2)(b)(i) The designated official shall process the request and by notice in writing inform the applicant that- (b) the request has been rejected- (i) on the basis that it does not comply with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder but only after requisite assistance has been offered to the applicant as mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 10	Not quite as clear as it could be but seems to cover this
Paraguay	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 6. competent organ. Public sources should enable an Office of Access to Public Information, in which applications will be accepted, as well as guide and assist the applicant in simple and understandable way. Article 13 defects. If the application does not contain all information required in the preceding article, he shall inform the applicant or defects, to correct them and complete your submission, for the purposes of processing.
Peru	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	10 Presentación y formalidades de la solicitud: La solicitud de acceso a la información pública puede ser presentada a través del Portal de Transparencia de la Entidad o de forma personal ante su unidad de recepción documentaria. Será presentada mediante el formato contenido en el Anexo del presente Reglamento, sin perjuicio de la utilización de otro medio escrito que contenga la siguiente información: a. Nombres, apellidos completos, documento de identidad, domicilio. Tratándose de menores de edad no será necesaria la presentación del documento de identidad; b. De ser el caso, número de teléfono y/o correo electrónico; c. En caso la solicitud se presente en la unidad de recepción documentaria de la Entidad, firma del solicitante o huella digital, de no saber firmar o estar impedido de hacerlo; d. Expresión concreta y precisa del pedido de información; y, e. En caso el solicitante conozca la dependencia que posea la información, deberá indicarlo en la solicitud. Si el solicitante no hubiese incluido el nombre del funcionario o lo hubiera hecho de forma incorrecta, las unidades de recepción documentaria de las Entidades deberán canalizar la solicitud al funcionario responsable. 11 Subsanación de la falta de requisitos de la solicitud: El plazo a que se refiere el literal b) del Artículo 11 de la Ley, se empezará a computar a partir de la recepción de la solicitud en la unidad de recepción documentaria de la Entidad, salvo que ésta no cumpla con los requisitos señalados en los literales a), c) y d) del artículo anterior, en cuyo caso, procede la subsanación dentro de las 48 (cuarenta y ocho) horas, caso contrario, se dará por no presentada, procediéndose al archivo de la misma. El plazo antes señalado se empezará a computar a partir de la subsanación del defecto u omisión. En todo caso, la Entidad deberá solicitar la subsanación en un plazo máximo de 48 (cuarenta y ocho) horas, transcurrido el cual, se entenderá por admitida la solicitud.	Article 10 and 11 of the regulations.
Portugal	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art 13.5: Acting in the person of their members of staff, the bodies and entities referred to by Article 4 shall assist the public in identifying the documents they want, particularly by informing them of the way in which their archives and registers are organised and used.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	9(2)
Serbia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 38: "1) informs the applicant about the possession of information and provides access to the document containing the requested information, ie submits information in appropriate ways, rejects requests for decisions, provides applicants with the necessary assistance to exercise their rights established by Law"
Seychelles	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	10(1) Where a person—(a) wishes to make a request to an information holder; or (b) has made a request to an information holder that does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the Information Officer shall take all necessary’ steps to assist the person, free of charge, to make the request in a manner that complies with this Act.
Sierra Leone	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	3.(4) A public information officer who receives an oral request shall reduce the request to writing, including the public information officers name and designation and shall give a copy thereof to the applicant. (6) Where a request for information does not comply with subsection (3), the public information officer who receives the request shall render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as may be necessary to enable the request to comply with that subsection. (6) Where a request for information does not comply with subsection (3), the public information officer who receives the request shall render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as may be necessary to enable the request to comply with that subsection.
Slovakia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Disclosure of Information Request Section 14 Request for disclosure of information:\"(3) In the event that the request fails to meet the requirements stipulated in paragraph 2, the obliged person shall invite the applicant without any delay to complete the request within a period of not less than seven days. The obliged person shall instruct the applicant how to complete the request. If the applicant fails to complete the request in spite of the obliged person Ìs notice and information cannot be provided due to this imperfection, the obliged person shall set the request aside.\"
Slovenia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art 18. "(2)Official referred to in Article 9 of this Act is obliged to provide the applicant with the appropriate assistance in supplementing the request."
South Africa	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	19. (1) If a requester informs the information officer of— (a) a public body that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of that public body; or (b) a public body (other than a public body referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)(i) of the definition of ‘‘public body’’ in section1) that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of another public body, the information officer must render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as is necessary to enable that requester to comply with section 18(1). (2) If a requester has made a request for access that does not comply with section 18(1), the information officer concerned may not refuse the request because of that non-compliance unless the information officer has— (a) notified that requester of an intention to refuse the request and stated in the notice— (i) the reasons for the contemplated refusal; and (ii) that the information officer or another official identified by the information officer would assist that requester in order to make the request in a form that would remove the grounds for refusal; (b) given the requester a reasonable opportunity to seek such assistance; (c) as far as reasonably possible, furnished the requester with any information (including information about the records, other than information on the basis of which a request for access may or must be refused in terms of any provision of Chapter 4 of this Part, held by the body which are relevant to the request) that would assist the making of the request in that form; and (d) given the requester a reasonable opportunity to confirm the request or alter it to comply with section 18(1).
Sri Lanka	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Section 23(2) Every information officer shall deal with requests for information made to the public authority of which he or she has been appointed its information officer, and render all necessary assistance to any citizen making such request to obtain the information. Article 24(1) ... Provided that where any citizen making a request under this subsection is unable due to any reason to make such request in writing, such citizen shall be entitled to make the request orally and it shall be the duty of the appropriate information officer to reduce such request to writing on behalf of the citizen. Section 24(2) Where a citizen (a) wishes to make a request to a public authority; or (b) has made a request to a public authority which does not comply with the requirements of this Act, the information officer concerned shall take all necessary steps to assist the citizen, free of charge, to make the request in a manner that complies with this Act.
Sweden	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Swedish Administrative Procedure Act, Article 4.	Article provides:\"Each authority shall provide information, guidance, advice and similar assistance to all persons concerning matters falling within the scope of its functions.\"
Switzerland	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	ORDINANCE ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN THE ADMINISTRATION. Section 2 Right of Access to Official Documents. Art. 3 Assistance to the applicant: "1 The authority shall provide information to the applicant about the official documents available and shall assist him through the procedure, particularly if the applicant is disabled. 2 Where official documents are accessible via the Internet or have been published in an official publication of the Federal Government, the authority may confine itself to providing references as to the sources where they may be found. 3 The authority is not required to translate official documents to which access has been granted in application of the Freedom of Information Act."
Tanzania	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Section 7(2) An information officer shall deal with requests for information and render assistance to a person seeking such information
Togo	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 8 : (4) Lorsque la demande n'est pas suffisamment précise ou lorsqu'une personne requiert une assistance pour identifier le document susceptible de contenir les renseignements recherchés, le responsable est tenu de lui prêter son concours.
Trinidad and Tobago	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	14. (1) A public authority shall take reasonable steps to assist any person who - (a) wishes to make a request under section 13; or (b) has made a request which does not comply with the requirements of section 13 (2), to make a request in a manner which complies with that section. (2) Where a request in writing is made to a public authority for access to an official document, the public authority shall not refuse to comply with the request on the ground that the request does not comply with section 13(2), without first giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity of consultation with the public authority with a view to the making of a request in a form that does comply with that section.	14(1) requires reasonable assistance. 14(2) requires clarification.
Tunisia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Art. 13 - Dans le cas où la demande d’information ne comporte pas toutes les mentions prévues aux articles 10 et 12 de la présente loi, le chargé d’accès à l’information doit en aviser le demandeur d’accès à l’information, par tout moyen laissant une trace écrite, dans un délai ne dépassant pas quinze (15) jours à compter de la date de sa réception de la demande.
Uganda	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	12. Duty to assist persons (1) Where a person informs the information officer - (a) that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of the public body of that information officer; or (b) that he or she wishes to make a request for access to a record of another public body, the information officer shall render such reasonable assistance, free of charge, as is necessary to enable that person to comply with section 11. (2) Where a person makes a request for access that does not comply with section 11, the information officer shall not refuse the request because of that non-compliance unless the information officer has ñ (a) notified that person of an intention to refuse the request and stated in the notice ñ (i) the reasons for the contemplated refusal; and (ii) that the information officer or other official identified by the information officer would assist that person in order to make the request in a form that would remove the reasons for refusal; (b) given the person a reasonable opportunity to seek the assistance referred to in paragraph (a)(ii); (c) as far as reasonably possible, furnished the person requesting access with any information, including information about the records, other than information under Part III that would assist the making of the request in that form; and (c) given the person a reasonable opportunity to confirm the request or to alter it to comply with section 11. (3) When computing any period referred to in section 15(1), the period commencing on the date on which notice is given under subsection (2) and ending on the date on which the person confirms or alters the request for access concerned shall be disregarded. (4) Where it is apparent, on receipt of a request for access, that the request should have been made to another public body, the information officer of the public body receiving the request shall - (a) render any assistance necessary to enable the person requesting access to make the request to the information officer of the appropriate public body; or (b) transfer the request in accordance with section 13, to the appropriate information officer, whichever will result in the request being dealt with sooner.	S. 12
United Kingdom	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Section 16: "(1) It shall be the duty of a public authority to provide advice and assistance,so far as it would be reasonable to expect the authority to do so, to persons who propose to make, or have made, requests for information to it. (2) Any public authority which, in relation to the provision of advice or assistance in any case, conforms with the code of practice under section 45 is to be taken to comply with the duty imposed by subsection (1) in relation to that case."	No specific mention about clarification, but it can be inferred by reading the article that it´s included under the scope.
Vanuatu	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	12. Functions of a Right to Information Officer (1) A Right to Information Officer has the following functions: (c) to assist persons seeking information under this Act; and 15. Duty to assist applicants. If an application for access to information is made, and that application does not comply with the requirements under subsection 13(4), the Right to Information Officer is to take reasonable steps to assist the person or applicant, free of charge, to make the application in a manner that complies with this Act.	-
Vietnam	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	YES	2	Article 24(1): The information requester shall make request in the following forms: (a) Come in person or authorize other person to go to the offices of the state agencies to make request. The person in charge of receiving request shall be responsible for instructing the information requester to fill out information in the Request Form as prescribed in clause 2 of this Article. Article 26(2): In case the contents specified in Item 2 of Article 24 of this Law in Request Form is inadequate and unclear, the agency receiving request shall be responsible for instructing the requester to supplement information. Reg. 2(3): Information-providing agencies shall ensure that forms of provision of information at request are suitable to the ability of information requesters to access information and their own practical conditions; assign their cadres and civil servants to provide guidance and explanations to information requesters; provide more information and create favorable conditions for citizens to access information in graphics, images, video clips or by other audio-visual media. Reg. 8(3): to guide and assist information requesters in clearly identifying documents, dossiers and materials and titles of documents containing information which they need so that they can fully and accurately fill in written requests for information.
Andorra	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 14 3. The Administration shall provide advice and assistance to the applicant so that the petition can be finalized. Article 14 3. L’Administració ha de prestar assessorament i assistència a la persona sol·licitant perquè pugui concretar la petiicio.
Argentina	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	ARTÍCULO 31°— Funciones de los responsables de acceso a la información pública. Serán funciones de los responsables de acceso a la información pública, en el ámbito de sus respectivas jurisdicciones: e) Brindar asistencia a los solicitantes en la elaboración de los pedidos de acceso a la información pública y orientarlos sobre las dependencias o entidades que pudieran poseer la información requerida;
Brazil	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 13. The following access to information requests shall be refused: I – of general scope Article 9. The public bodies and entities shall implement a Citizen Information Service SIC, with the aim of: I – serve and guide the public on matters related to information access;	Article 13 of the Decree states that generic requests will be responded. But 9(1) of the law tasks the Citizen Information service with "serving and guiding the public on matters related to information access;" - worth a point
Chile	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	ARTICLE 12. La solicitud de acceso a la información será formulada por escrito o por sitios electrónicos y deberá contener: a) Nombre, apellidos y dirección del solicitante y de su apoderado, en su caso. b) Identificación clara de la información que se requiere. c) Firma del solicitante estampada por cualquier medio habilitado. d) Órgano administrativo al que se dirige. Si la solicitud no reúne los requisitos señalados en el inciso anterior, se requerirá al solicitante para que, en un plazo de cinco días contado desde la respectiva notificación, subsane la falta, con indicación de que, si así no lo hiciere, se le tendrá por desistido de su petición. El peticionario podrá expresar en la solicitud, su voluntad de ser notificado mediante comunicación electrónica para todas las actuaciones y resoluciones del procedimiento administrativo de acceso a la información, indicando para ello, bajo su responsabilidad, una dirección de correo electrónico habilitada. En los demás casos, las notificaciones a que haya lugar en el procedimiento se efectuarán conforme a las reglas de los artículos 46 y 47 de la ley N°19.880, sobre Bases de los Procedimientos Administrativos.	Art 12 - requires clarification procedures.
Cyprus	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 10 (Clarifications) and Article 17 (Help and Advice for Requesters) and Article 39 (Code of Practice)	This is to be developed in the code of practice that is drawn up by the Information Commissioner.
East Timor	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 10(4) Public entities must provide the necessary support to the public for the best and correct identification of the document to be consulted. Article 11 Reply to application It is the responsibility of the member of the competent government or the top officer of the department or entity, or in whom they delegate, within 10 working days, to respond to the requests submitted under the terms of the previous article, being able to: А. To reject the request in the first instance, pursuant to paragraph 2 of the preceding article; (B) invite the applicant to refine the application for lack of clarity of the document or identification of the document; (c) Authorize access, through the issuance of a certificate, reproduction of the document or marking of date, time and place for consultation; (d) Refuse access to the document, explaining the grounds of the same, under the terms of this decree-law.	Vague obligation to provide support.
Greece	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 3(3) If the interested party states that she cannot write, the competent public servant, following an oral account of the request of the interested party, is obliged to draw up the application himself/herself.
Guatemala	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Artículo 39. Los sujetos obligados establecerán como vía de acceso a la información pública, entre otros, sistemas de información electrónicos. Bajo responsabilidad de la autoridad máxima garantizará que la información publicada sea fidedigna y legítima. La información publicada en los sistemas de información electrónicos, entre otros, deberá coincidir exactamente con los sistemas de administración financiera, contable y de auditoría y esta deberá ser actualizada en los plazos establecidos en esta ley.	Article 39 wording implies that clarifications should be requested.
Guinea	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	13(2) Dans le cas où le·demandeur d'accès à l'information souffre d'un handicap, d'une incapacité de lecture ou d'écriture, ou encore lorsque ce dernier est atteint d'une incâpacitê auditive ou visuelle, le chargé d'accès à l'information est tenu de lui apporter l'assistance nécessaire, pour la formulation de la demande et l'obtention de l'information. 17. Dans le cas où la demande d'information ne comporte pas toutes les mentions prévues aux articles 14 et 16 de la présente loi, le chargé d'accès à l'information doit en aviser le demandeur d'accès à l'information, à travers un courrier de réponse, dans un délai ne dépassant pas quinze (15) jours à compter de la date de réception de la demande d'accès à l'information.	Must contact if the request does not comply but no general requirement to assist or help formulate outside of cases of illiteracy, disability, etc.
Honduras	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	ARTÍCULO 5. SOPORTE HUMANO Y TECNICO. Para el cumplimiento de su deber de transparencia, las Instituciones Obligadas deberán mantener subsistemas con suficiente soporte humano y técnico, que permitan la sistematización de la información, la prestación de un servicio de consulta y el acceso por los ciudadanos, asi como su publicación cuando sea procedente a través de los medios electrónicos o escritos disponibles. Para ese efecto, cada institución designara un Oficial de Información Publica responsable de dicho subsistema y suministre la información solicitada, siempre y cuando no este declarada como reservada de conformidad con el Articulo 17 de la presente Ley. Cada Institución creara una partida presupuestaria suficiente para asegurar su funcionamiento.	Article 5 requires some support, but the scope and extent of it is vague.
Israel	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	N/A	Procedure number 8 of the Freedom of Information Act obliges freedom of information officers in the government to contact requesters in case that their request is to broad and therefore might be declined, and offer them to reduce their request to a measure that can be handled by the authority.
Italy	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	[Law 150/2000] 8(1) (Ufficio per le relazioni con il pubblico) L\'attivitÃ dell\'ufficio per le relazioni con il pubblico Ã¨ indirizzata ai cittadini singoli e associati. (2) Le pubbliche amministrazioni, entro sei mesi dalla data di entrata in vigore della presente legge, provvedono, nell\'esercizio della propria potest regolamentare, alla ridefinizione dei compiti e alla riorganizzazione degli uffici per le relazioni con il pubblico secondo i seguenti criteri: (a) garantire l\'esercizio dei diritti di informazione, di accesso e di partecipazione di cui alla legge 7 agosto 1990, n. 241, e successive modificazioni; (b) agevolare l\'utilizzazione dei servizi offerti ai cittadini, anche attraverso l\'illustrazione delle disposizioni normative e amministrative, e l\'informazione sulle strutture e sui compiti delle amministrazioni medesime; (c) promuovere l\'adozione di sistemi di interconnessione telematica e coordinare le reti civiche; (d) attuare, mediante l\'ascolto dei cittadini e la comunicazione interna, i processi di verifica della qualit dei servizi e di gradimento degli stessi da parte degli utenti; (e) garantire la reciproca informazione fra l\'ufficio per le relazioni con il pubblico e le altre strutture operanti nell\'amministrazione, nonch fra gli uffici per le relazioni con il pubblico delle varie amministrazioni. (3) Negli uffici per le relazioni con il pubblico l\'individuazione e la regolamentazione dei profili professionali sono affidate alla contrattazione collettiva.	There only exists a general duty to assist, guaranteed by law 150/2000
Kuwait	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	3. The authorities shall facilitate the access to information for people and guarantee their disclosure according to the timing and modalities stipulated in this law.	Just a very general requirement to facilitate access to information in accordance with the law. This is not further developed in the Regulations.
Kyrgyzstan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	21.1 Provision of information upon request is subject to refusal if:...(2) the request does not meet the requirements provided for in Part 1 of Article 16 of this Law, provided that the person responsible for providing the response has offered assistance to the applicant in eliminating such deficiencies;	They can only deny a request for not meeting requirements if they have offered assistance. However, it would be better if there were also an explicit duty to assist with the initial formulation of requests.
Lithuania	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 6. Right to Obtain Information from State and Municipal Institutions and Agencies "<...> 4. Information for the production whereof the accumulation of additional data is not required shall be provided to the producers and/or disseminators of public information and journalists not later than within one working day, whereas information for the production whereof additional data has to be accumulated shall be provided not later than within one week. 5. State and municipal institutions and agencies as well as other budgetary institutions which have refused to provide public information to the producer of public information must, not later than on the following working day, notify the producer in writing of the reasons for refusal to provide the information. <...>"
Luxembourg	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	A4(2): Pour les demandes formulées de manière trop générale, l’organisme sollicité invite le demandeur, au plus tard avant l’expiration du délai prévu à l’article 5, paragraphe 1 er, alinéa 1 er, à préciser sa demande d’information.	This is not really an obligation to assist and one point is generous but at least you get informed about the need to clarify.
Mongolia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	12.1. An information requesting party shall have the following rights in exercising his/her rights: 12.1.4. to receive additional reference on issues related to information; 12.1.5. to have oral explanation made on the content of the information; 12.2. An information requesting party shall have the following obligations when receiving information: 12.2.3. to articulate the required information realistically.	12.1.4 and 12.1.5 seem to provide for this, to some extent, but are not very clear. Also, the 12.2.3 requirement to be realistic in asking for the info is troubling, and makes it seem like clarification help would not be forthcoming and the request might be rejected.
Morocco	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	12(1) Tout institution ou organisme concerné doit désigner une ou plusieurs personnes qui seront chargées de la mission de recevoir les demandes d'accéder à l'information, de les étudier et de fournir les informations demandées, ainsi que d'apporter l'assistance nécessaire, le cas échéant, au demandeur de l'information dans l'établissement de sa demande. 18. En cas de refus, en tout ou en partie, de la demande d'accès à l'information, les institutions ou les organismes concernés doivent motiver leur réponse par écrit, notamment dans les cas suivants : ... — si la demande d'information n'est pas claire ;	Very general reference to providing the necessary assistance and requests may be rejected if unclear
Nepal	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1		National Information Commission has issued a Guidelines for the Implementation of RTI has, which contains provision requiring Information Officer to provide assistance, but no requirements to contact for clarification.
Netherlands	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Section 3, Paragraph 4: \"If the wording of an application is too general, the administrative authority shall as soon as possible ask the applicant to make his application more specific and shall help him do so.\"
Niger	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	24: Chaque administration assure, en son sein, l’accueil et l’information des usagers au niveau d’un service d’accueil et d’orientation du public. Elle est tenue de communiquer à l’usager les informations exactes sur les procédures et formalités nécessaires à l’obtention des prestations qu’elle fournit.	Article 24 contains procedures for assistance, but no clarification procedure.
Panama	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Artículo 8: El oficial de información tendrá las siguientes obligaciones: (...) 2. Ser el contacto central en la institución para la recepción de solicitudes de información, para la asistencia a las personas que solicitan información y para la recepción de denuncias sobre la actuación de la institución en la divulgación de información, así como la protección de datos personales.	8(2) of Law 33 of 2013 requires information officials to assist requesters.
Philippines	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Section 9(b): The public official receiving the request shall provide reasonable assistance, free of charge, to enable all requesting parties and particularly those with special needs, to comply with the request requirements under this Section. See also Regulation 3(1).
Romania	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 8(1): For the information requested verbally, the officers of the information and public relations compartments have the obligation to specify the conditions and the forms in which the access to public information takes place and can provide the requested information on the spot.
Russia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	Article 18(8): (Request for Information on the Activities of Government Bodies and Bodies of Local Self-Government): Government bodies and bodies of local self-government have the right to clarify the content of the request for the purpose of granting the information user necessary information on activities of the above-specified bodies.	Only clarification procedures listed.
San Marino	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	27(4). The Administration, as far as possible, shall collaborate with the interested party in identifying the requested document. 29(2). The Administration is not required to process requests for access: a) if it accepts the opposition presented by the parties concerned pursuant to article 25, paragraph 3; b) if they are not sufficiently precise or are worded in such a way that the requested document cannot be identified; c) if they are manifestly unreasonable, abusive, pretextual and quantitatively excessive.	1 point deducted due to the vagueness of the kind of assistance implied by the duty to "collaborate" with the party
South Korea	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	PD 11(2): The head of a central administrative agency, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, the Metropolitan City Mayor, the Metropolitan Autonomous City Mayor, Do Governor, the Special Self-Governing Province Governor, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (referring to the head of an autonomous Gu; hereinafter the same shall apply), and a superintendent of an office of education of a Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan City, Metropolitan Autonomous City, Do, and Special Self-Governing Province may appoint a chief officer of information disclosure, from among the public officials under his/her jurisdiction, to perform duties of the following subparagraphs relating to information disclosure: 4. Support for an applicant for information disclosure for his/her request of information disclosure.	Very general and vague obligation to support an applicant.
South Sudan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1		9(3) - clarification requirements.
Taiwan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	11 The government agency shall notify the applicant to correct the request within seven days if it is remediable. The government agency may disallow the request without consulting anyone if it is not remediable or not corrected before the deadline.	Art 11 - but only in some instances.
Tajikistan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	12(2) refers to clarification procedures.
Ukraine	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	16.1 Information administrator shall be responsible for defining tasks and ensuring activity of a structural unit or responsible person for issues of access to public information of the information administrator, who shall be responsible for processing, systematization, analysis and control concerning satisfaction of information request, providing consultation during preparation of the request, as well as for publishing of information as required by this Law.	Only a very general obligation to provide assistance to the requestor.
Venezuela	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	9...En caso que el sujeto obligado tenga dudas acerca del alcance o contenido de la información solicitada, deberá ponerse en contacto con el solicitante con el objetivo de aclarar su petición…	Only a limited obligation to assist for limited purposes.
Zambia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	9(2)
Zimbabwe	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	Partially	1	3 The objects of this Act are— … (c) to promote transparency, accountability and effective governance by taking any steps necessary to— … (ii) ensure that appropriate assistance is afforded to members of the public seeking to exercise their right of access to information in order to facilitate the exercise of the right.	Only a very general reference in the section on objectives to assisting.
Angola	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Austria	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	7 (2) The information must be described as precisely as possible. The applicant may be ordered to provide a written version of a request made orally or by telephone if the content or scope of the information requested is not sufficiently clear from the request. Explanatory Note, Re § 7...Defects in written submissions do not lead to rejection, but at most to a request for improvement	There is no general requirement to assist, and applicants can be ordered to provide a written request where an oral request is unclear. The explanatory note indicates, however, that where a written submission is deficient, there should be a "request for improvement" instead of a rejection, which is positive but not enough to warrant a point.
Bangladesh	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not listed in the act.
Belgium	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	There is no clearly stated obligation on public officials to assist requesters.
Benin	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned
Bolivia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned
Bulgaria	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	24(1) The request for granting access to public information shall be made in the form of a written application or verbal request. (2) The application is deemed written also in cases where it is send electronically subject to conditions determined by the respective body. (3) Where the applicant is not granted access to public information requested in oral form, or he/she considers the disclosed public information insufficient, he/she may file a written application.
Czech Republic	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Denmark	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Ecuador	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Georgia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	The law does not obligate public officials to help the requesters.
Germany	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	No specific provision.
Hungary	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Indonesia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Iran	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Jordan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Kazakhstan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	9(1) Information holder has the right to: [...] (2) clarify content of a request with a person applied with such a request; [...]
Kenya	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Latvia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	The principle of good administration requires that institution strives to clarify all issues, which may hinder realization of the interests of a submitter. Which is normally done. But is not a legal obligation.
Liechtenstein	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not specified in law.
Monaco	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	24. Il n’est pas fait droit aux demandes trop générales ou trop imprécises pour permettre à l’autorité administrative d’identifier le document administratif recherché, ni aux demandes abusives en particulier par leur nombre ou leur caractère répétitif.	No mention of assistance, just rejecting requests that are too general.
Mozambique	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned
Nigeria	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Palau	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	Not mentioned
Poland	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0		Not mentioned.
Qatar	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	مادة 7: تقوم الإدارة المختصة بتيسير الحصول على المعلومات وتقديم المساعدة الكافية في الأحوال الــتي يحتــاج فيها طالـب المعلومات لمساعدة خاصة، كذوي الإعاقة أو كبار السن أو الأُمـيّين أو غيرهم. المادة 17 يُرفض طلب الحصول على المعلومات في الحالات التالية (4) إذا كـان طلب المعلومات غير واضح. 7. The competent administration facilitates obtaining information and provides adequate assistance in cases where the information seeker needs special assistance, such as people with disabilities, the elderly, the illiterate, or others. 17. A request for information will be rejected in the following cases: ... (4) If the information request is not clear.	No explicit obligations to assist with formulating requests or to contact requestors where requests are vague. Instead, vague requests are to be rejected.
Republic of Belarus	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	Not mentioned
Rwanda	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0		Not mentioned.
Saudi Arabia	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Spain	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A
Sudan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A
Thailand	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Turkey	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
United States	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	Not mentioned
Uruguay	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Uzbekistan	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0	N/A	Not mentioned.
Yemen	Public officials are required to provide assistance to help requesters formulate their requests, or to contact and assist requesters where requests that have been made are vague, unduly broad or otherwise need clarification.	Score 1 point for help in formulation and 1 point for clarification procedures	2	NO	0		Not mentioned.

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