UNESCO has kicked off a global survey on public access to information within its efforts to assist countries to report on Sustainable Development Goal 16, particularly on its Target 16.10 which recognizes the contribution of access to information to justice, peace and strong institutions.
Using SDG Indicator 16.10.2, the survey will track progress on the adoption and implementation of constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information around the world. UNESCO is the custodian agency in the UN for monitoring this aspect of SDG performance.
The new survey is being undertaken as part of the Organization’s role to enhance norms and policies for the right to access information.
“Thanks to the responses from each country to this new survey, we will now know more about overall global progress in ensuring public access to information, which in turn plays such a vital role in the achievement of the SDGs,” said Guy Berger, UNESCO Director for Strategy and Policy in the Communication and Information Sector.
Silvia Montoya, Director, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, commented: “It is essential to ensure data is cross-nationally comparable and comparable over time to provide a global understanding of where we are, the progress realized, and the distance remaining to achieve internationally agreed goals.
“UIS’s technical expertise and commitment to quality make production of trusted data possible for this very difficult to measure indicator,” she said.
This global data collection exercise responds to a request made by the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) in 2018 and its results will be presented to the IPDC Council in October this year.
The data will also be included in other important reporting exercises at the international level, such as the annual UN Secretary-General report on overall SDG progress.
Governments can also make good use of the collected data at the national level to keep track of their country’s progress towards SDG 16, and to prepare their Voluntary National Review (VNR) and Universal Periodic Review (UPR) exercises.
The survey comprises two questionnaires, one to be completed by Access to Information Officers/Commissioners and the other by selected public authorities. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is leading the methodological and data production efforts.
The deadline for submitting data is 20 March 2020. Data is expected to be released in June 2020 and will also inform a report to be submitted to the IPDC Council in October 2020.
The data will be made available through a dedicated portal on SDG Indicator 16.10.2. Statistics from the exercise are intended to be used widely by countries, international and regional organizations, the media, and academics with a view to improving policies and practices on public access to information.
Such access is not only part of the basic human right of expression, but also serves as an important tool for promoting the rule of law and ensuring other rights as well as goals under the SDGs.
It is therefore an enabler for sustainable development such as in improving health and the environment, as well as addressing poverty and fighting corruption. UNESCO’s and UIS’ work on access to information has been made possible through the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Germany and The Netherlands through the IPDC.
For further information, please contact UIS at uis.cisurvey@unesco.org or by telephone at +1 514 343 6880