Access to Information Laws

Access to Information Laws

Access to Information can be defined as the right to seek, receive and impart information held by public bodies. It is an integral part of the fundamental right of freedom of expression, as recognized by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(link is external) (1948), which states that the fundamental right of freedom of expression encompasses the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

Highlights

The 2021 Survey on Public Access to Information (SDG Indicator 16.10.2)
Uruguay to host 2022 World Press Freedom Day Conference

Our Activities

The International Day for Universal Access to Information
Online platform “Story for Development”
Global Open Access Portal (GOAP)

#RightToKnow, International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021 - H.E. Nazhat Shameem Khan

H.E. Nazhat Shameem Khan, President of the Human Rights Council and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations for Fiji recalls the importance of Access to Information during the celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information on 28 September 2021.

The Universal Periodic Review - valuable mechanism facilitating the promotion and protection of all human rights around the world - is a unique peer-review process through which the Human Right record of each of the 193 Member States of the UN is reviewed and recommendations are provided to the states on how to protect and strengthen the promotion of Human Rights.

Furthermore, UNESCO launches new guidelines for UN Country Teams to promote freedom of expression through the Universal Periodic Review

In Numbers

65
jurisdictions with Access to Information guarantees

reported that their respective guarantee specifies the need for public bodies

28 countries
which submitted their Voluntary National Review

reported on access to information

26 countries
celebrated the IDUAI 2021
37 countries
out of 127 with Access to Information laws

explicitly refer to persons with disabilities and their rights

Our Publications

Steering AI and advanced ICTs for knowledge societies: a Rights, Openness, Access, and Multi-stakeholder Perspective
UNESCO
2019
UNESCO
0000372132
Policy guidelines for the development and promotion of governmental public domain information
2008
0000134082
Freedom of information: a comparative legal survey
2008
0000158450
Access to information: a new promise for sustainable development; preview
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Wissenschaft
1973
Recommends more homogeneity for continuing education centres run by community organizations in Germany FR - administrative organization can be either autonomous or public. Other points dealt with are rural urban differences and the need for educational coordination.
0000370686