{"id":67233,"date":"2024-10-23T17:21:43","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T17:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day"},"modified":"2024-10-23T17:42:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T17:42:37","slug":"gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day","title":{"rendered":"Gambia Celebrates International Access to Information Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>The Gambia joined the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Universal Access to Information (ATI) on Tuesday.<\/b><\/p>\n

The ATI Day came into being through a UNESCO General Conference Resolution and Adoption in 2015. Similarly, at the 74th United Nations General Assembly in 2019. The day was further reaffirmed and proclaimed.<\/p>\n

Speaking during the opening ceremony that was held at the Paradise Suites Hotel, Madam Neneh Macdual Gaye, the Chairperson of the Information Commission of The Gambia noted this year\u2019s theme \u201cMainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector\u201d reflects the need to collaborate with all stakeholders for innovative ideas, enhanced democracy and effective governance.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess to Information can empower citizens as we navigate complex challenges, be it climate change, public health, social abuse, corruption, and other complexities,\u201d she highlighted.<\/p>\n

Chairperson Gaye further stressed that passing the ATI law has been a major stride and a demonstration of political willingness, but more importantly, now is the implementation of the law. Additionally, to achieve this, there must be coordinated efforts among public institutions, civil society organizations, the media, academia, and other citizens. The commission she says stands ready to work with all state and non-state actors to achieve this.<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Daniel Joof Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of The Gambia, noted that the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), celebrated annually on September 28, holds significant importance globally, particularly in advancing democracy, good governance, and human rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was in recognition of the very important role access to information plays in promoting transparency, accountability, and participation in decision-making processes that the UN marked this day to be celebrated as access to information essential in empowering citizens, ensuring good governance, and fostering sustainable development. In recognition of this important day, the UN also encourages governments and institutions worldwide to implement policies that provide free and open access to information, to build inclusive and informed societies that uphold democracy and human rights\u201d. He stated.<\/p>\n

The importance of IDUAI he maintains can be understood through several significant aspects:<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, access to information is a foundation of fundamental human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights enshrine this right, linking it inextricably to the freedoms of speech, association, assembly, right to vote, and participation in elections and public office. Without access to timely and accurate information, citizens cannot fully exercise these rights\u201d.<\/p>\n

Joof further argued that good governance is strengthened when citizens have access to Information as it promotes transparency and accountability. By promoting open access to government information (statistics, figures, facts, data, etc) transparency is created and this inevitably helps to combat corruption, inefficiency, and abuse of power and opens opportunities for public oversight of public officials. Also adding that this also provides the citizenry with the requisite knowledge to participate in the democratic processes, defend their rights, influence policy decisions, and ultimately hold leaders accountable.<\/p>\n

\u201cFurthermore, access to information ensures inclusivity by empowering marginalized and vulnerable communities including women, children, minorities, and the poor to access vital information on health, education, and justice. This inclusivity aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16), particularly Target 16.10, which calls for ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms\u201d, he pointed out<\/p>\n

For his part, the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting, Hon. Ismaila Ceesay who was ably represented by Mr. Fanding Kinteh, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry in his address noted that the right to public information is fundamental to freedom of expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cit is therefore important that Access to Information plays a central role in legal frameworks that govern public institutions across all levels as well as public-private partnerships\u201d. He declared.<\/p>\n

It will be recalled that the Access to Information Bill was passed in July 2021 and assented to by President Adama Barrow in August 2021. In July 2024 the National Assembly approved and confirmed five appointed members of the Commission and on 9th September 2024, the Commission members were sworn in a ceremony presided over by Vice President, Mohammed BS Jallow.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia joined the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Universal Access to Information (ATI) on Tuesday. The ATI Day came into being through a UNESCO General Conference Resolution and Adoption in 2015. Similarly, at the 74th United Nations General Assembly in 2019. The day was further reaffirmed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":67231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,9,2366],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-67233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-miscellaneous","category-to-homepage","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\nGambia Celebrates International Access to Information Day - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Gambia joined the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Universal Access to Information (ATI) on ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gambia Celebrates International Access to Information Day\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Gambia joined the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Universal Access to Information (ATI) on ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gambia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-23T17:21:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-10-23T17:42:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2024\/10\/sm_1729692656.661851.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Gambia Celebrates International Access to Information Day\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-23T17:21:43+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-10-23T17:42:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\"},\"wordCount\":693,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2024\/10\/sm_1729692656.661851.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Gambia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"miscellaneous\",\"to-homepage\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambia-celebrates-international-access-to-information-day\",\"name\":\"Gambia Celebrates International Access to Information Day - 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