The paper is structured in a way to facilitate the conference presentation by Anne Thurston, * * on how the lessons coming out of the recent US e-recordkeeping initiative may be applied on an international basis, with a focus on lower resource countries. What follows then is a summary of US policy, with open-ended questions ("Discussion Points") aimed at facilitating additional dialogue.

The availability of documentary evidence strengthens civil society by helping to protect legal rights and prevent human rights violations. Legal redress, voting rights, land registration and pension claims all depend upon the availability of records. Conversely, the loss of control of records undermines the state's ability to protect the people. Furthermore, in the absence of well-managed records, information can be manipulated, transparency becomes impossible and fraud flourishes. Citizens cannot participate meaningfully in the governance process or hold government officials accountable for their actions and decisions. Freedom of Information is meaningless.The International Records Management Trust, Rights and Records Institute is dedicated to serving the international information management community. It acts as a leading resource for technical information and services through research and education. Through its activities, the Institute seeks to empower developing country governments to manage public records in support of citizen's rights and to make public sector service delivery more efficient and economic. This article introduces broadly the work of the Trust and the newly established Rights and Records Institute and inform on both ongoing and completed research. The work of the TrustThe International Records Management Trust was set up in 1989 to develop new approaches to managing public sector records. Its creation was prompted by the recognition that there were major recordkeeping problems in the public sector of English-speaking developing countries. Officials in ministries and departments were finding it impossible to

The Open Data movement has assumed that that accurate data is available to demonstrate government expenditure and actions. However, in many countries, the records of government policies, activities and transactions that should provide the basis for a large proportion of government data are incomplete, inaccurate or inaccessible.  This will result in inaccurate data. This paper suggests that alongside the enthusiasm for Open Data, there needs to be parallel attention to ensuring that government records are managed as the evidence base for Open Government. The paper explores key records issues that will affect Open Data and draws attention to the value of international records management standards.

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Records management in Africa is increasingly influenced by two global developments: public service reform initiatives and computerisation. The national archival organisations, which have statutory responsibility for records management in the public sector, have been severely under‐resourced for many years but now have new opportunities to develop a much higher profile. The situation presents a range of new challenges, and not all are agreed on the best way forward. However, professionals and educators across the continent are re‐evaluating their role and many are taking a holistic view encompassing the needs of users at all stages of the records lifecycle or continuum. This attitude is earning the respect of senior public officials who are increasingly recognising records management as an important aspect of public sector reform.