information orally or in writing and in conformity with processing requirements. Appropriate support shall be provided to non-literate persons and persons with disabilities to make requests for information on an equal basis with others. 4. No fees shall be payable other than the reasonable reproduction cost of requested information. The cost of reproduction shall be waived where the requester is indigent. 5. Any refusal to disclose information shall be provided timeously and in writing, and it shall be well-reasoned and premised on international law and standards. Principle 32. Appeals Any refusal to disclose information shall be subject to an expeditious internal appeal process at no cost to the applicant. The right of further appeal against the outcome of an internal appeal process shall lie to the oversight mechanism and, ultimately, the courts. Principle 33. Exemptions 1. Information may only be legitimately withheld where the harm to the interest protected under the relevant exemption demonstrably outweighs the public interest in disclosure of the information. Such information may only be withheld for the period that the harm could occur. 2. Where a portion of a document containing requested information is exempted from disclosure, the exempted portion shall be severed or redacted and access granted to the remainder of the document that is not exempted from disclosure. 3. Laws governing classification of information shall stipulate the maximum period of the classification and restrict classification only to the extent necessary, never indefinitely. 4. Information may only be legitimately withheld as an exemption if its release would: a. b. c. d. result in the unreasonable disclosure of the personal information of a third party; cause substantial prejudice to a legitimate commercial or financial interest of relevant stakeholders or other third party; endanger the life, health or safety of an individual; cause substantial prejudice to the national security and defence of 21