Nagoya, September 24 - Meredith Fuchs, general counsel for the National Security Archive located at George Washington University, discussed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with an audience of researchers, company executives, local government officers, and journalists at the Aichi International Association Plaza.

Ms. Fuchs stated that the FOIA is one of the first acts of its kind in the world that allows the public to access previously classified government documents for research.

Other countries, including Japan, have since passed their own open government legislation.

After discussing assorted difficulties that researchers have had in the past with FOIA requests, Ms. Fuchs states that the FOIA’s success depends on the tenacity and persistence of the common citizens who use it.

The Aichi International Association and the Aichi Lawyer Association cosponsored this event.