September 28

International Day for Universal Access to Information

September 28

Universal access to information is bound up with the right to seek and receive information, which is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. It is covered by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is an outcome of advocacy of the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) whose lobby efforts resulted in the adoption, by the 38th session of the Unesco General Conference, of Resolution 38C/70 proclaiming 28 September as the International Day for the Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

IDUAI has particular relevance with the new 2030 Development Agenda, and in particular with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 16.10 which calls for ensuring public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms.

The ACTION Coalition therefore marks 28 September every year to highlight its campaign for an Access to Information law in Namibia, as well as policies for multilingualism and cultural diversity in the cyberspace, and ensuring that women and men with disabilities are integrated.

The ACTION coalition marked the 2017 commemoration of IDUAI on 28 September as part of a larger conference on Internet Governance in Namibia. Ombudsman John Walters delivered the keynote address.