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Nablus, 29 September 2019 - UNESCO celebrated its fourth International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI 2019) in Palestine, under this year’s theme “Leaving no one behind!” through different activities.

The first activity involved the launch of UNESCO’s In-Focus report “Access to Information: A New Promise for Sustainable Development” at an event organized at An-Najah University, Nablus in cooperation with the Oslo Metropolitan University and the An-Najah University, supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Junaid Sorosh-Wali, UNESCO’s Officer-in-Charge, Head of Office, emphasized that the right to Access to Information is one of the most important foundations for strengthening individual and societal developement.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad of the Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority noted that Access to Information is linked to enforcement of Human Rights and is a pre-requisite to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Representatives from the Ministry of Information, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Vice-President of An-Najah University delivered powerful speeches affirming that the time has come for a right to information law to be adopted in Palestine, stressing that access to information is a key pillar for ensuring public freedoms and transparent governance.

The second activity, organized in collaboration with Al-Quds Open University, featured an Open Talk that involved influential local speakers from academia, non-governmental institutions, and media outlets actively advancing the right to access information. Interventions underlined the nexus between a strong societal fabric, good governance and the rule of law as the result of public and equitable access to quality information.

Highlighting the link between digital inclusion and well-being, Mr. Junaid Sorosh-Wali explained that by sharing case studies and experiences, identifying best practices and supporting public awareness, the IDUAI celebration seeks to contribute to positive change and to the adoption and development of more effective policies that can contribute to inclusive, thriving societies.

Through these activities, UNESCO highlighted the fundamental importance of the right of access to information as an essential tool to foster open societies and to inspire effective laws and better practices in the field of media development.

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For more information on this event, please contact: Hala Tannous, Communication and Infoamtion focal point at the UNESCO Ramallah Office, at h.tannous@unesco.org