International Day for the Universal Access to Information

IDUAI 2016 Around the World

Passengers on the popular Jakarta-Bogor commuter train invited to celebrate International Day for Universal Access to Information in Indonesia. In photo: Ming Kuok Lim, UNESCO Communication and Information Officer. © UNESCO

Afghanistan

Access to Information: This is your right! (Conference)

Brief description:

To mark the first international day for Universal Access to Information, UNESCO Office in Kabul organizes a conference to discuss key issues on access to information in Afghanistan. Some of the topics of the panel discussions debate around the Role of Afghanistan’s Oversight Commission on Access to Information, as well as international experiences on access to information. A media campaign was launched on 29 August. Radio spots on the importance of access to information are broadcasted in national media.

Partners:

- UNAMA

- Integrity Watch Afghanistan

- Independent Media Consortium (IMC)

Date and Time:

28 September 2016

Venue:

Government and Media Information Center

Media contact:

Ricardo Grassi, Senior Advisor – UNESCO Afghanistan, Communication and Information Programme, Tel.: +93 (0)728 85 85 67 - +93 (0)77 44 35 191

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Kabul

Bangladesh

National Seminar on “The State of Access to Information in Bangladesh” Challenges and Way Forward

Brief description:

UNESCO Dhaka Office is organizing a national seminar on 25 September 2016. A key note paper titled: “Knowledge of Access to Information as RIGHTS” will be presented, followed by a panel discussion and a question and answer session. Professor Dr. M. Golam Rahman, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commission, Bangladesh will be the Chief Guest and Ms. Beatrice Kaldun, HOO, Dhaka Office will deliver the inaugural speech at the Seminar. Approximately 80-100 participants among them journalists, UN agencies, NGO partners, Media and Civil Society organizations are expected to attend.

Partners:

- The Information Commission, Bangladesh Government

- National Partner: Institute of Communications Studies (ICS)

- Media Partner: BD News 24.com

Date and Time:

25/09/2016 from 10:00 am-01:00 pm

Venue:

Dept. of Archeology Auditorium, Sher-e- Banglanagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Media contact:

Nyma Nargis, n.nargis@unesco.org, Tel: 990-01711147500

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Dhaka

Brazil

Launch of UNESCO publication "Policy guidelines for the development and promotion of open access"

Brief description:

UNESCO Brasilia Office will launch the UNESCO publication "Policy guidelines for the development and promotion of open access" authored by Alma Swan. The event location will be the recently opened Museum of Tomorrow, in partnership with IBICT (Brazilian Institute for Information in Science and Technology= and the Roberto Marinho Foundation. Around 50 key stakeholders will be attending the event, including high level Brazilian government authorities. In addition, IBICT will receive the The Electronic Publishing Trust for Development Award 2015. IBICT coordinates at its facilities the Information for all Program (IFAP).

Partners:

Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia (IBICT); Fundação Roberto Marinho; Museu do Amanhã.

Date and Time:

09/28/16 - 09:30 AM

Venue:

Museu do Amanhã, Praça Mauá, 1 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20081-262 - Brazil

Media contact:

Ana Lúcia Guimarães, Coordinator, a.guimaraes@unesco.org, Tel: +55 61 2106-3536

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

Available soon

Cuba

Discussion panel “Access to information and development in the age of the big data”

Brief description:

The discussion panel will explore the policy and technological framework enabling access to information for development in present Cuba. Speakers will discuss access to information in the 2030 Agenda as well as in the new social and economic policy being designed in the country. Ongoing initiatives to foster more transparent public institutions, access to documentary heritage and citizen’s participation in the public life through data meaning, data linking, mobile applications and social media will be highlighted.

Partners:

- School of Communication, University of Havana.

Date and Time:

28th September 2016, 2:00 p.m.

Venue:

School of Communication, University of Havana

Media contact:

Elena Nápoles, National Professional Officer, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO Havana, e.napoles-rodriguez@unesco.org, Tel: 53 78327741

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in la Havana

Indonesia

Expert Meeting on Target 16.10.2

Brief description:

UNESCO and the Global Forum for Media Development will hold a technical workshop with 30 representatives from more than 15 organisations from different regions to discuss indicator 10.2 of the Sustainable Development Goal Target 16. The event is part of the World Forum “Decoding the Future: Rethinking Media for a New World” taking place in Jakarta from 20-22 September. UNESCO has been tasked as the Custodian Agency for this indicator and is responsible for the global reporting of the target to the United Nations. The Indicator 16.10.2 aims to ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

Partners:

- Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

Date and Time:

19 September 2016 - 09:00 – 16:20

Venue:

Multimedia Nusantara University, Tangerang, Indonesia

Media contact:

Ming-Kuok LIM, PhD., Advisor for Communication and Information, UNESCO Office in Jakarta, Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Cluster Office for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Jakarta

Islamic Republic of Iran

Commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (Rountable)

Brief description:

The Islamic Republic of Iran marked the occasion on the 2nd of October by organizing a roundtable at the Bureau of Media Studies and Planning in Tehran. The event gathered university professors and students in Communication and Information Technologies, experts in modern ICTs and media professionals.

Partners:

- Iranian National Commission for UNESCO

- Bureau for Media Studies and Planning of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Date and Time:

2 October 2016

Venue:

Bureau of Media Studies and Planning in Tehran

Jamaica

Investigative Journalism and Access to Information in Jamaica workshop

Brief description:

This workshop will train 30 journalists practising in Jamaica on Investigative journalism and access to information. Pulitzer prize winning Journalist Kimberly Kindy of the Washington Post will be the main speaker who will focus on the investigative interview and the reporting process. There will also be an overview of the Jamaica Access to Information Act. This session will focus on rights under the ACT, what information can be typically disclosed, what will likely be withheld under the ACT; and how to appeal decisions. The workshop will also cover social media and the news; sources, tracking events and pinpointing stories

Partners:

- Global Reporters for the Caribbean (GRC) in collaboration with National Integrity Action, the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO

Date and Time:

09/09 /2016 – 10/09/2016

Venue:

Spanish Court Hotel, Worthington Ave, Kingston 5, Jamaica

Media contact:

Isabel Viera UNESCO, Advisor for Communication and Information, i.viera@unesco.org; and Erika Walker UNESCO National Professional Officer, e.walker@unesco.org, Tel: 876-630-5300

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Jamaica

Jordan

Access to Information: The Right of Everyone in Jordan (short film)

Brief description:

A short film will be produced to explore access to information as a human right and how the access to information law relates to a culture of free and independent media in Jordan. The film will be produced in the framework of the EU funded and UNESCO implemented Support to Media in Jordan (STMJO) project. The film will be screened at four universities in Jordan, and the screenings will be followed by panel discussions organized by students around access to information as a human right. The film will also be shown as part of the European Union Film Festival, taking place in Amman in mid-October 2016.

Partners:

N/A

Date and Time:

Film Screenings:

Yarmouk University- Faculty of Mass Communication [02/10/2016 – 11:00]
Venue directions: Shafiq Irshidat St., Irbid 21163, Jordan

Jordan Media Institute [05/10/2016 – 14:00]
Venue directions: Mouneer Omar Balqar St. 8, Amman 11821, Jordan

Middle East University [date to be confirmed]
Venue directions: Mouneer Omar Balqar St. 8, Amman 11821, Jordan

University of Petra [November/date to be confirmed]
Venue directions: Queen Alia Airport Street, Marj Al-Hamam, Amman, Jordan

European Union Film Festival [between 5 – 12 October/date to be confirmed]
Venue directions: Rainbow Theatre, Jabal Amman, Amman, Jordan

Karama Human Rights Film Festival [December/date to be confirmed]
Venue directions: to be confirmed

Media contact:

Lidija Sabados, Associate Project Officer/Support to Media in Jordan Project, l.sabados@unesco.org, Tel.: +962 (6) 5929621 Ext 328, Mobile: +962 (7) 96830012

Ikhlas Al-Khawaldh, National Programme Officer Communication and Information Sector, i.aal-khawaldh@unesco.org, Tel.: +962 (6) 5929621 Ext 368, Mobile: +962 798957615

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Ammanand Facebook page

Support to Media in Jordan project websiteand Facebook page

Kazakhstan

Photo-contest “Into the Lens - Freedom of Information”

Brief description:

A Photo-contest and exhibition “Into the Lens - Freedom of Information” will be organized on the occasion of the “International Day for Universal Access to Information” on 28 September 2016 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. During ten days, the photo-exhibition of the best photo-art works of media and information professionals from Central Asia act will be an awareness campaign on universal access to information. The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil soz" in cooperation with UNESCO Cluster Office are organizing the celebration of the event.

Read in French or Russian.

Partners:

- Kazakhstan Union of Journalists

- IFEX-The global network defending and promoting free expression

Date and Time:

Photo-contest and exhibition: [28/09/2016 – 10/10/2016 10:00-18:00]

Venue:

Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Samal 1 Street, 44

Media contact:

Mr Sergey Karpov (Specialist of the Communication and Information Sector), s.karpov@unesco.org, Tel: +7 777 221 10 85

Ms Gaukhar Balgarina (Communication and Information Assistant), g.balgarina@unesco.org, Tel: +7 (727) 258 26 43

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

Adil Soz

Madagascar

Campaign for the right to access to information as a basic human right in Madagascar

Brief description:

The first celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information in Madagascar will be celebrated on 28 September 2016 in order to make citizens and public authorities aware of their respective duties and responsibilities in relation to access to information. The day will also be an opportunity to recognize the important role that librarians and libraries play in development.

Partners:

- Commission Nationale Malgache pour l'UNESCO

- Comité pour la sauvegarde de l'Intégrité (CSI).

Date and Time:

28 September 2016, 08:30 to 17:00.

Venue:

To be determined, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Media contact:

Jaco DuToit, Communication and Information Adviser, Tel.: +254728610912, j.dutoit@unesco.org

Mexico

Information for quality education (Panel discussion)

Brief description:

On the occasion of Mexico’s National Transparency Week organized by the country’s Institute for Access to Public Information and Data Protection (INAI), the head of UNESCO Office in Mexico will participate at the panel discussion “Information for a Quality Education (SDG4).” The Panel will be moderated by INAI’s President Commissioner and will include high-level participants from government and civil society.

Date and Time:

29 September 2016

Venue:

Institute for Access to Public Information and Data Protection, Av. Insurgentes Sur 3211, 04530 Mexico City, Mexico

Media contact:

ip.mexico@unesco.org, +52 (55) 5280-7071

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Mexico

Mongolia

UNESCO and International Day for Universal Access to Information – 2016
National Consultation Meeting on Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information

Brief description:

The objectives of the National Consultation meeting on Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information are three-fold:

- To engage the key stakeholders in deliberations with policy makers at the national level to address the complex issues surrounding the implementation of Law on Information Transparency and Right to Information and to seek ways to resolve the issues;

- To facilitate exchange of experiences, lessons learned and good practices on Access to Information and freedom of information, and to seek the ways that the good practices are maintained in the newly formed public offices,

- To facilitate contributions of the stakeholders towards the successful implementation of SDGs and Open Government Partnership Action plans

Partners:

- Globe International Center NGO

- Open Society Forum, Mongolia

Date and Time:

28 September 2016

Venue:

Open Society Forum Mongolia, Sukhbaatar District, Khoroo 1, Jamyan Gun Street 5/1, Ulaanbaatar 14240, Mongolia.

Media contact:

Ms. Naranjargal Khashkhuu, President of Globe International Center NGO, hnaran@globeinter.org.mn

Morocco

Celebration of IDUAI in Morocco

Brief description:

On the occasion of the commemoration of the IDUAI in Morocco, three main activities are planned:

- The General Assembly of the Réseau Marocain pour le Droit d’Accès à l’Information (REMDI). It is the main network of NGOs and CSOs dealing with the promotion of the Right to Access Information, which UNESCO has supported since its inception. In the past years, the REMDI has been actively involved in the drafting and public discussion around the Moroccan RTI law, which has now been approved by the first chamber of the Parliament.

- Transparency Morocco will organise in cooperation with UNESCO, in their regional centres in Fez (centre of Morocco) and Nador (North of Morocco) an awareness raising day around the international standards of UAI as well as the existing laws ruling the Right to Information in the country.

- A day-long open forum at the Institut Superior Institution for Communication and Information (ISIC), centre of excellence in training future journalists and communication professionals. The day will be split in two parts. First, there will be a round-table with both institutional participants and civil society ones. In the afternoon, the event will allow for the presentation of the awareness raising tool developed by the UNESCO office in Rabat: UNESKIT. In this educational tool, one tab is specifically devoted to the Right to access information. A short advocacy film will also be screened, this film was developed in both French and Arabic and aims to inform a broader audience about the RAI

Date and Time:

26/27 September 2016: General Assembly of the REMDI

28 September2016: Awareness raising day in Transparency local centres in Fez and Nador

20 October 2016: Open Forum at the ISIC

Venue:

General Assembly of the REMDI, venue t.b.c., Casablanca

Awareness raising day in Transparency’s centre in Nador

Educational day in Transparency’s centre in Fez

ISIC’s Amphitheatre, Madinat AL IRFANE, Avenue Allal Al Fassi, Rabat

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Rabat and Twitter feed

Namibia

“International Day for the Universal Access to Information” (IDUAI)

Brief description:

The “International Day for the Universal Access to Information” (IDUAI) will be celebrated on 28 September 2016 in Windhoek at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). Two events prior to the main celebration will take place: a Gala Dinner hosted by the Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN) which will be held on 15 September 2016, and a Conference on 16 September 2016. The main speakers at the conference are Adv. Faith Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information at African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and Prof. Guy Berger, Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO. In addition, the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES) Media produced film, “Accessing Information in Africa: It's your Right”, will be screened at the conference.

Partners:

MISA (Media Institute of Southern Africa) Namibia Chapter

Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN)

Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES) Media

Ministry of Information and Communication Technology

The African Platform on Access to Information (APAI)

Namibia Media Trust (NMT)

Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)

Namibia National Commission for UNESCO

Namibia Community Broadcasters Network (NCBN)

Date and Time:

Gala dinner. [15/09/2016] ( hosted by the Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN)

International Day for the Universal Access to Information Conference: [16/09/2016 – 08:00-16:30]

Main event: [28/09/2016 – 08:00-13:00]

Venue:

International Day for the Universal Access to Information (IDUAI): Venue will be the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Windhoek, Namibia, 13 Storch Street

Gala dinner: Venue to be confirmed

Conference: Venue to be confirmed

Media contact:

Dr Jean Pierre Ilboudo (Head of Office and Communication and Information Sector), Email: (Personal Assistant) l.van-wyk@unesco.org / jp.ilboudo@unesco.org, Tel: +264 61 291 7201

Mr Joseph Iilonga (Communication and Information Consultant), Email: j.iilonga@unesco.org, Cell: 081 496 8678 / +264 61 291 7000

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Windhoek Officeand Facebook page

Palestine

Adopting a Right to Information in Palestine: Significance, Opportunities and Challenges

Brief description:

The UNESCO Office in Ramallah is organizing an open encounter to discuss with international partners and selected national stakeholders the importance of adopting a Right to Information law in Palestine. UNESCO has provided technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority in the finalization of the draft Right to Access Information law through an in-depth review of the law. It also co-hosted in December 2015, together with the Ministry of Information of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission, a seminar to discuss the proposed changes and secure an agreement on the final text of the draft law before its submission to the Council of Ministers.

Partner:

- Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS)

Date and Time:

29 September 2016

Venue:

Local Aid Coordination Secretariat (LACS), Palestine

Media contact:

Majd Beltaji, Public Information Officer, UNESCO Ramallah, m.beltaji@unesco.org

South Africa

Round Table on the State of Citizens’ Access to Information in South Africa and awareness-raising of the right to information on community radio and various media

Brief description:

Within the project “Free Expression Exchange- Enhancing community based access to information mechanisms for greater local government accountability” UNESCO has worked to address citizens’ access to information concerns in South Africa. The project focuses on access information in municipalities, and raising awareness on using this right to hold their municipalities accountable.

Partners:

- Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), South Africa

- South African National Information for All Programme (IFAP) Committee

- South African National Commission for UNESCO

Date and Time:

28th September 2016, 10:00

Venue:

Pretoria, South Africa

Media contact:

Hezekiel Dlamini/ Adviser for Communication and Information in Southern Africa, h.dlamini@unesco.org, Tel: +263 772125550-1

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Harare

South Asia

South Asia Celebrations of International Day for Universal Access to Information in New Delhi

Brief description:

A South Asia regional event to celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information in 2016. The title for the event will be Universal Access to Information for Underserved Communities in South Asia as a Means to Achieve the SDGs. More than 100 experts are expected to participate, including invited participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka.

Partners:

- The event will be delivered with the generous support of Information for All Programme (UNESCO/IFAP) and UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office.

Date and Time:

Wednesday, 28 September 2016, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm

Venue:

The Viceroy Hall, The Claridges Hotel, 12 Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, New Delhi - 110011, India

Media contact:

Rekha Beri, Documentalist and Public Information Officer , r.beri@unesco.org, +91 11 26713000 (ext. 105)

South Sudan

Launch of the South Sudan Public Information Centre Website

Brief description:

Within the framework of creating conditions for sustainable development and peace through support to universal access and preservation of information, enhanced ICT skills open solutions, UNESCO office in Juba is supporting the design, creation, development, hosting and maintenance of the South Sudan Public Information (PIC) website. The support also includes cataloguing and classification of the PIC library information resources using the Library of Congress Scheme classification system. The website can be accessed at: http://www.southsudanpic.org/.

Partners:

- South Sudan Public Information Centre (PIC)

- Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Postal Services

- UNESCO Office in Juba

Date and Time:

28 September 2016 from 11 am – 13:00

Venue:

South Sudan Public Information Centre, Juba, South Sudan

Media contact:

Ms. Mwatile Ndinoshiho, n.mwatile@unesco.org

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Juba

Vietnam

International workshop on Policy Advocacy to Promote Open Educational Resources in Viet Nam

Brief description:

As Viet Nam requires more highly-qualified human resources for national development, better quantity and quality of learning resources and considering that the development of teaching methods are major concerns in many universities, the cooperation in developing Open Educational Resources (OER) between universities is an important solution. The overall goal of the programme “Promoting Open Educational Resources in Higher Education in Viet Nam,” is to support OER development in Viet Nam through: (i) awareness raising on the benefits and challenges to development of OER in higher education, (ii) piloting of OER in some higher education institutions and (iii) advocacy for the development of policies, strategies, programmes, models, technology for OER in higher education.

Partners:

The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Ha Noi National University

UNESCO Bangkok

UNESCO Ha Noi

Date and Time:

8.30 am – 17.00, 28 September 2016

Venue:

TBC, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

Media contact:

Ms. Hoang Minh Nguyet, Communication and Information Program Coordinator, hm.nguyet@unesco.org, Tel: 84 4 37470275/6

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Ha Noi Office

Zimbabwe

Public Open Day on the International Day for Universal Access to Information

Brief description:

The event will showcase existing information access platforms in Zimbabwe, such as print, broadcast as well as online media through mobile networks and community information centres. It will also discuss current challenges in expanding access to information within the country with focus on access for population groups such as people with disabilities and remote rural populations. Government decision makers, Internet and mobile network providers, other private-sector media players, civil society organizations and the general public are expected to attend.

Partners:

- Ministry of Media Information and Broadcasting Services

- Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services

- International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Area Office for Southern Africa

- Zimbabwe National Commission for UNESCO

- Zimbabwe Open University

- Zimbabwe Research Council

- Private Sector media organizations

Date and Time:

28th September 2016, 10:00

Venue:

Harare, Zimbabwe

Media contact:

Hezekiel Dlamini/ Adviser for Communication and Information in Southern Africa, h.dlamini@unesco.org, Tel: +263 772125550-1

Webpage of event or link to Field Office:

UNESCO Office in Harare

UNESCO works with civil society organizations to advance freedom of information by addressing the challenges, fostering dialogue and providing technical advice in the process of drafting, approving and implementing FOI laws. For more information on our partners’ celebrations of the first International Day for Universal Access to Information, visit:

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International Day for the Universal Access to Information

IDUAI 2016 Around the World

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Brazil

Cuba

Indonesia

Islamic Republic of Iran

Jamaica

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Madagascar

Mexico

Mongolia

Morocco

Namibia

Palestine

South Africa

South Asia

South Sudan

Vietnam

Zimbabwe

Venue

Contact