The Right to Information that cannot be lost…

The Right to Information that cannot be lost…

September 28 (International Day for Universal Access to Information)

 

September 28 is International Day for Universal Access to Information.  This day is best known as the International Right to Information Day.  At the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, September 28 was designated as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, emphasizing the importance of access to information.  UNESCO, the United Nations’ leading body, has recognized the International Day for the Grant of Universal Access to Information on September 28, 2015, even before it was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly.

 

This year’s theme for UNESCO is Access to Information – Saving Lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!  In a statement, UNESCO said that 2020 should be an opportunity to call on member states to enforce the right to information, even in times of crisis.

 

According to UNESCO, 127 countries in the world have enforced information laws.  UNESCO further states that the UN Human Rights Council is examining whether all 193 member states are enforcing such laws and granting the right to information to the people under the Sustainable Development Agenda and the UPR process up to 2030.

 

Sweden is considered to be the first country in the world to introduce a bill guaranteeing the right to information.  That was in the 18th century.  Freedom of Information as a human right is enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, emphasizing that freedom of information is a fundamental human right as well as a repertoire of all established UN activities.

 

After Sweden, the United States passed a law confirming the right to information about 200 years later in 1966.  Western countries, such as France in 1978, the Netherlands in 1980, England, Australia and New Zealand in 1982, Canada in 1983, and Denmark in 1985, took steps to grant their citizens the right to information.  In the case of the South Asian region, Pakistan is the first country to assert its right to information.  That was in 2001.  India in 2005, Nepal in 2007 and Bangladesh, Maldives and Bhutan in 2009 gave their people the right to information.  The people of Sri Lanka will have that right in 2016.  It was the last country in South Asia to be granted the right to information.

 

We hope to achieve many things by giving the public the right to information.  Gaining public participation in government policy making, formulation and implementation, building public confidence in government affairs, making the public administration process efficient and effective, building a society free from corruption, protecting human rights, protecting the environment, eradicating poverty, reconciliation It expects things like growth.

 

Also, ensuring public access to government-owned data is a very important aspect of the right to information.  The assertion of the right to information had by now exposed the political authority of the government in Sri Lanka and the bureaucracy to release much of the information that had been withheld for political and bureaucratic purposes.  Such a revelation was the first step towards a government responsible to the people.  The use of the Right to Information Act and the Information Act in relation to certain government projects have prevented certain corruptions from being exposed by the media and created a social opinion against corruption.  Some development activities were expedited as a result of inquiries using the right to information.

 

One of the closest examples to the public in this regard is the process of enrolling children in schools.  It is no secret that the process of enrolling first year students in Sri Lankan schools is very complex, competitive and paves the way for corruption.  Prior to the enactment of the Right to Information Act in Sri Lanka, it was very difficult to obtain information from school principals such as giving marks to victims in interviews.  The revelations came only after a fundamental rights case was filed.  For a victim, it can be a daunting task.  Due to the granting of the right to information to the citizens and the enactment of the Information Act, many aggrieved parents were able to obtain relevant information from the school principals under the Information Act and through this they were able to successfully obtain relief by filing fundamental rights lawsuits.  In addition, due to such inquiries made through the Information Act, the public was able to bring disciplinary action against school principals who acted in a corrupt manner.  Due to the use of the Information Act in this manner, the principals were compelled to make the admission process of these children more systematic and transparent.

 

This is just one example.  Through this RTI, it was possible to carry out development processes successfully and transparently and to find the necessary documents on fundamental rights violations taking place in the state machinery.

 

We have a historic role to play in protecting the right to oxygen as well as important information to live in a context where many of the rights of the citizen are being deprived in the name of development and national security.  It is the responsibility of civilized citizens.

 

Postscript: An International Information Day celebration organized by the Journalists’ Organization for the Right with the participation of Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, members of the Information Commission, Attorney-at-Law Jagath Liyanarachchi, and journalists and civil activists who used the right to information Will be held from 9.30 am.

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