Africa-Press – Mauritius. The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), organised by the Africa Freedom Information Centre on the theme: “The Right to Know: Building Back Better with Access to Information”, was commemorated, today, through a virtual session.
The Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication, from the University of Mauritius, Mrs Christina Chan-Meetoo, participated in the plenary session on ‘Adoption of access to Information Laws-Country Experiences’.
This year’s edition of IDUAI highlighted the importance of expanding access to information laws, and their implementation worldwide to build strong institutions for sustainable development and to uphold the vision of information so as to strengthen international cooperation in the field of implementing the right to information as a fundamental right.
In her address on the occasion, the Minister of State for Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance, Mrs Joyce Juliet Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, stressed on the importance of access to information to ease in the delivery of government services with a view to promote access to information to the citizens.
She also spoke of the enhancement of proactive disclosure of information and responsiveness of government institutions as well as relevant private bodies to requests for information in addition to engaging governments on the establishment and strengthening of mechanisms to facilitate adequate disclosure of timely and accurate information.
For his part, the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, underpinned the main purpose for Universal Access to Information which should be observed and analysed on a broader perspective adding that the overall aim is to transform the lives of the citizens.
He also spoke of access to social media networks and highlighted that a greater majority of people do not have access to those facilities. He further pointed out that it is fundamental to deal with the real transformation of things that hold the people from having access to information and the necessary amenities stressing that the State has the responsibility to protect the individual.
Other eminent personalities also addressed the session. They comprised the Executive Director, Africa Freedom of Information, Mr Gilbert Sendugwa; the Head of the African Governance Architecture Secretariat at the African Union, Ambassador Dr Salah S.
Hammad; the Country Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Robert Kotchani; and the Regional Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen.
They all focused on the importance of access to information as a core element in protecting human rights in Eastern Africa so as to improve the resilience of society to uncertainty and times of crisis especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other key highlights of their statements pertained to the strengthening of strategies to advance the right of access to information in Eastern Africa while increasing awareness on the significance of the right to information as a tool to ensure transparency and accountability and public participation in Eastern Africa.
International Day for Universal Access to Information
It will be noted that the discussions around the theme chosen this year in particular on “building back better” remained adaptive in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hence, the global commemoration presents immense opportunities to raise awareness and engage key stakeholders including governments, civil society, and the public, on the significance of the right to information in enabling the realisation of SDG 16 target 10 (as measured by indicator 2 on public access to information).
The deliberations of the session will help in the effective implementation of access to information in Eastern Africa with Increased commitments from government stakeholders to establish and strengthen mechanisms so as to facilitate access to information.
The recommendations will also serve towards the preparation of an action plan for follow-up from the findings and discussions on access to information for its implementation in Eastern Africa.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information commemorated on 28 September, was proclaimed following continued advocacy by the Africa Freedom of information Centre and its African Platform on Access to Information partners at the 74th United Nations General Assembly held on 15 October 2019.
Prior to this, the International Day had been proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2015 to advocate for the adoption and effective implementation of the right to information laws in Eastern Africa and raise awareness on the significance of the right to information in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals as a whole with specific emphasis on SDG 16.10.2.
