Work of various African organisations and governments helped lead the way to last week's inaugural International Day for Universal Access to Information.
This statement was originally published on misa.org on 28 September 2016.
Statement by African Platform on Access to Information Working Group
Congratulations on the first official
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION
The African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) Working Group would like to officially thank all government partners, civil society members, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for making this momentous occasion possible.
This day was celebrated for over a decade by civil society organisations and freedom of information advocates around the world.
In recognition of the positive impact that officially proclaiming the day would have on spreading the word about the importance of access to information, APAI lobbied UNESCO to officially inaugurate the 28 of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Seeing the link between the free flow of information, poverty eradication, and sustainable socio-economic development, the Africa Group within UNESCO supported this initiative, with Angola, Morocco and Nigeria sponsoring the resolution.
The official commemoration of this day by UNESCO is a significant step towards a more open future for governments and the public alike.
APAI would like to once again express its gratitude to all involved, and we look forward to creating a more transparent society for the benefit of all.
The APAI Working Group
Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)
Highway Africa
Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC)
The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF)
