IDUAI 2023 - Celebrations around the world

UNESCO and partners are planning national and regional celebrations in:

Bangladesh

Title: The importance of the online space for access to information

Date of the event: 28 September

Format: Face to Face

Outlines: The South Asian regional celebration will use this opportunity to delve into the judiciary and information commission's paramount role in protecting Universal Access to Information. Furthermore, discussions on internet disruptions and their ramifications on human rights law will also be touched upon.

The UNESCO New Delhi Office will organize an online event that will bring together regional partners, legal, media and information experts, and academics who will share their experiences, and conduct an online discussion relating to protection of universal access to information. The regional celebration will delve into the information commission's paramount role in protecting universal access to information. Furthermore, discussions on internet disruptions and their ramifications on human rights law, and the role of AI on access to information will also be touched upon.

Contact: Ashita Singh

Sao Tomé et Principe

Title: Capacity building on the right to access to information for key stakeholders in Sao Tome and Principe

Date of the event: 18,19 and 20 October 2023

Format: Face to Face

Description: Over the past ten years, the right to information has been recognized by an increasing number of countries, including developing countries, through the adoption of a series of laws on the subject. By 2022, at least 135 countries have ratified and enacted such laws, making the right to information possible. In Africa, according to the second continental report of Agenda 2063, 27 (twenty-seven) African countries have adopted access to information legislation to promote inclusive and accountable societies in Africa.

An approach to the operationalization of Agenda 2063 at the continental level led by the African Union tends to encourage African countries to localize this Agenda 2063 by adopting and implementing constitutional, statutory and/or political guarantees for the fundamental rights, a safe and effective way for them to work for peace and prosperity for people and the planet by taking action towards the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the major products of this support from the African Union is the production since 2013 of a Model Law for Africa on Access to Information designed to facilitate the drafting of legal texts on the subject at the state level.

Central African countries have been committed for several years to adopting specific laws on the right of access to information. But to this date, no country (except Angola) has achieved this for various reasons.

To increase the number of countries with international standards on access to information, the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa is working with States and other development partners to strengthen the capacity of key national stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental, and is supporting the process of drafting laws on access to information.

In Sao Tomé and Principe, UNESCO will organize, with the support of the RC office of the UN system, a training aiming to build capacity of main actors concerned by the RTI in the country in order to reinforce their role in advocating, drafting, adopting and implementing a RTI law in STP.

The training will provide participants with knowledge on the assessment of RTI in the world and in Africa, the international laws and standards governing this right, and the main components of national legislation in line with international standards and best practices.

The three days training will target in its first day officials from key ministries and public bodies, the second day will target journalists from public, private and community medias and the last day will be dedicated to train CSOs representatives working on the field of HR, Transparency, accountability, and women empowerment.

Contact: Najib, Mokni

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