稳步推进联合国教科文组织2022年公众信息获取报告（可持续发展目标16.10.2）

ASTEADYPATHFORWARD

UNESCO2022Report

onPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)

PrintedinFrance

Publishedin2023bytheUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

7,placedeFontenoy,75352Paris07SP,France

©UNESCO2023

ISBN978-92-3-100594-7

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Thedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofmaterialthroughoutthispublicationdonotimplythe

expressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartofUNESCOconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,

city,orareaorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.

Theideasandopinionsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthors;theyarenotnecessarilythoseof

UNESCOanddonotcommittheOrganization.ThesamedisclaimerappliestocommissionedUNESCOresearch

citedinthisstudy.

Thisstudyshouldbecitedasfollows:ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccessto

Information(SDG16.10.2),Paris.

Researcher:

AndreyRichter,ProfessorattheComeniusUniversityinBratislava.

UNESCOResearchteam:

JacoDuToit,UNESCOChiefoftheSectionforUniversalAccesstoInformation,MariusLukosiunas,UNESCO

Communication&InformationAdvisor,IngridMondet,UNESCOConsultant.

Contributors:

LidaAyoubi,SeniorLecturer,theAucklandUniversityofTechnology.

Graphicdesign,coverdesignandtypeset:

BillyAnderson

Acknowledgements:

UNESCOwishestothankthefollowingpartnersthatsupportedtheUNESCO2022SurveyonPublicAccessto

Informationinthepreparationofthisreport:theInternationalConferenceofInformationCommissioners(ICIC);

ReddeTransparenciayAccesoalaInformacion(RTA);GlobalAllianceforReportingProgressonPeaceful,Just

andInclusiveSocieties;MarcosMendiburu,UNESCOConsultant;nationalSDGfocalpointsfordatacollection;and

PermanentDelegationsforUNESCO.

ThisreportissupportedthroughtheInternationalProgrammefortheDevelopmentofCommunication(IPDC).

SHORTSUMMARY

ThePathForwardforPublic

AccesstoInformation

AstheUNcustodianagencyforSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDG)Indicator16.10.2,UNESCOcontinuestoreportonprogressontheadoptionandtheimplementationofAccesstoInformationguarantees.The2022reportshedlightontherelevanceofaccesstoinformationtotheattainmentofthe

SDGaswellascounteringdisinformationand

123

balancingtherighttoinformationwith

therighttoprivacy.Italsofocuseson

nationalandregionalgoodpractices,

includingSmallIslandDeveloping

countriesandterritoriesparticipatedinthe

2022surveyonSDG16.10.2

States.

“ASteadyPathForward”report

capturesthesedimensions,presenting

keyfindingsfromthe2022UNESCO

SurveyonPublicAccesstoInformation

andassessingprogressin123participating

countriesandterritories.Itequipspolicymakers,civilsociety,academiaandthoseinterestedinSDGissueswithcasestudiesandgoodpractices,concentratingonreinforcingcommunitiesandpublicinstitutionswithmoreaccesstoinformation.

“Sincewarsbegininthemindsofmenandwomenitisinthemindsofmenandwomenthatthedefencesofpeacemustbeconstructed”.

ASTEADYPATHFORWARD

UNESCO2022Report

onPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)

TableofContents:

ShortSummary

3

ExecutiveSummary

6

1.BACKGROUNDANDCONTEXT

8

1.1AccesstoInformationandSustainableDevelopment

1.2UNESCOandthemonitoringandreportingonSDGIndicator

16.10.2

9

9

2.TRACKINGPROGRESSONSDGINDICATOR16.10.2IN

12

2022

2.1Globaloverview:AdoptionofAccesstoInformationlegal

13

guarantees

2.2Mutualreinforcementofrightsofaccesstoinformationandto

privacy

2.3Highlightsfrom2022UNESCOSurveyonPublicAccessto

Information

14

15

3.ACCESSTOINFORMATIONREPORTINGIN

VOLUNTARYNATIONALREVIEWS

21

4.USINGACCESSTOINFORMATIONTOADVANCETHE

27

SDGS:CASESTUDIESANDGOODPRACTICES

4.1PrivacyrightsinthedigitalworldofAccesstoInformation

4.2FocusingonSmallIslandDevelopingStates

4.3NationalFocus:AccesstoinformationinArmeniaasan

instrumenttocounterdisinformation

4.4NationalFocus:Mandatingproactivereleaseofinformationin

Australia

28

31

32

33

Conclusion

35

ExecutiveSummary

Goal16:

“Promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforallandbuildeffective,accountableandinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevelsandinclusivesocieties.”

Target16.10:

“Ensurepublicaccesstoinformationandprotectfundamentalfreedoms,inaccordancewithnationallegislationandinternationalagreements.”

Indicator16.10.2:

“Numberofcountriesthatadoptandimplementconstitutional,statutoryand/orpolicyguaranteespublicaccesstoinformation.”

*UNESCOasCustodianAgency

for

Althoughmoreandmorecountriesandterritoriesadoptconstitutional,statutoryand/orpolicyguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformation,theirpracticalimplementationisstillfacedwithvariousproblems,oftenofaglobalscale.Risksanduncertaintiesposedbythecurrentinternationalcontext,suchasclimatechange-induceddroughtandfloods,whichputpressureonfoodsecurity,otherman-madeandnaturaldisastersemergetochallengetheimplementationofthenationalreformsandtheachievementofdevelopmentgoals.2

Trackingprogressonaccesstoinformation(or,ATI)inthepastthreeyearsthroughlegalguaranteesandtheirimplementation,showsanoverallrecognitionoftheroleofaccesstoinformation,asacriticalinstrumentfordevelopmentandprotectingfundamentalhumanrights.Thisisprovenbythekeyfindingsfromthe2022UNESCOSurveyonPublicAccesstoInformationbasedondatacollectedfrom123countriesandterritories,andadditionalexpertise.

Thereportalsoofferscasestudiesandgoodpracticesonprivacyprotectioninthecontextofthedigitaltransformationandexistingaccesstoinformationstandards,asreflectedinthequestionsofthesurveyonSDGIndicator16.10.2.Itincludesadiscussionontheroleofprivateentities,digitalaccessibilityofinformation,theuseofartificialintelligenceandInternet-of-thingsandtheprocessingofpersonaldata.

ThecaseofSmallIslandDevelopingStates(SIDS)ispresented,explainingtheissuesatstakefortheadoptionandtheimplementationofregimesfavorabletoaccesstoinformationinSIDSspecifically.Itpointstoinadequateresourcesandlackofbudgetarysupportasdeterrentsonthewaytotransparencyofpublicinstitutions.

Fromnationalperspectives,twocasestudiesareputforward.OnecasestudyfocusesonArmeniaandtheroleofaccesstoinformationtocounterdisinformation.AnothercasestudyfocusesonAustraliaandtheimportanceofproactivedisclosureofgovernmentinformation,asameanstoensuretransparencyandaccountability.

2See:Ethiopia2022VNR,

/sites/default/files/vnrs/2022/

VNR%202022%20Ethiopia%20Report_1.pdf

;andTheGambia2022VNR,

/sites/default/files/vnrs/2022/VNR%202022%20

Gambia%20Main%20Messages.pdf

6ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)

ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)7

ExecutiveSummary

AstheUNcustodianagencyforSDGIndicator16.10.2,UNESCOcontinuestoreportonprogressontheadoptionandtheimplementationofAccess

toInformationlegalguaranteesworldwide.This

year’ssurveyusedthesamemethodologyastheoneapprovedbytheUN’sInter-AgencyandExpertGroupontheSustainableDevelopmentGoalIndicators(IAEG-SDGs).Thesurveyitselfcomprises8questions3,eachwithvaluesbetween0and2.Uponthecompletionofthesurvey,acountrycangetatotalscoreof0-9,enablingittotrackprogressovertime.Thetotalscoreofeachcountryisthebasisforglobalanalysisoftrendsasreportedhereandisnotassignedtoanylevelcategory(e.g.:low,medium,orhigh).

LaunchedinApril2022,thesurveyengagedresponsesby123countriesandterritories,anincreaseby20.6%comparedtothepreviousyear.ThispositivephenomenondemonstratesacontinuedinterestinreportingonaccesstoinformationwithintheframeworkoftheSDGs.

The2022surveyalsoyieldedinsightsintothemainfeaturesintheimplementationoflegalguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformationworldwide.

Datacollectedconfirmstheoverallexistenceofalimitedscopeofexemptionsforprotectedinterests,thatareexplicitlymentionedinthenationalAccesstoInformationguarantees,butthenumberforcountriesandterritoriesthatkeepdisaggregateddataonrefusalstoAccesstoInformationrequestsonthebasisofexceptionsisstillnotsufficient.

Lookingatthedatarelatedtoindependenceoftheoversightbodies,asignificantchangeinthereportingprocesscanbeobserved:therecipientoftheoversightreportsisincreasinglythelegislativeratherthantheexecutivebranchofpower,thelegislaturesarealsotoapprovethebudgetforoversightactivities,whiletheappointmentoftheheadoftheoversightinstitutionismoreoftenmadebytheexecutive.

3Thequestionsarebasedon“PrinciplesofAccesstoInformation”,andwhichhighlightessentialcomponentsforeffectiveimplementationofaccesstoinformationatthecountrylevel.ThesePrinciplesaresynthesizedfromexistingframeworksanddocumentsrecognizedinternationallyandincludeArticle10oftheUnitedNationsConventionagainstCorruption;resolutionsoftheUNGeneralAssemblyandHumanRightsCouncil;theCommonwealth’sModelFreedomofInformationBill;OrganizationofAmericanStates(OAS)’sModelLawonAccesstoInformation;AfricanUnion’sModelLawonAccesstoInformationandreportsfromtheUNtheSpecialRapporteuronthepromotionandprotectionoftherighttofreedomofopinionandexpression.

Astothemandatedroleoftheoversightinstitution,onecandistinguishasignificantdropintheproportionofcountriesandterritoriesthatrequirethemtopublishanannualreport,toprovideimplementationguidancetothepublicofficials,toengageinraisingpublicawarenessandeventokeepstatistics.

Finally,astableandsignificantproportionofallrequestsforinformation–aboutthreequarters–beinggrantedcanbeobservedfromthesurveysubmissionsinboth2021and2022.However,thisobservationisbasedonarathersmallnumberofcountriesandterritoriesthatprovidedstatisticsonthenumbersofactualrequestssubmitted.

TheannualUNESCOsurvey,whichprovidesastandardizedapproachtomonitoringSDG16.10.2,hasprovenusefulforcountriesinmeasuringandreportingprogressatthenationallevel,includingintheirVoluntaryNationalReviews(VNRs)ofprogressmadeontheSDGs.Inthisregard,thisreportalsopresentsananalysisofcountries’reportingonSDG16.10.2intheVNRsfrom2019to2022.

While135UNMemberStateshavestatutoryguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformation,theremainingstatesthathavenotadoptedsuchguaranteescouldlearnfromthetrendsandgoodpracticesencompassedinthisreport.Itcanalsohelpcountriesandterritoriesconfrontedwithnewglobalchallengestobuildpublictrust,strengthentheirinstitutions,improvepublicservicedeliveryandaddresscorruption.

WithlessthaneightyearslefttoachievetheSDGsby2030,andwithglobalchallengesbecomingmoreinterconnected,themessagestaysclearthataccesstoinformationisacentraldriverforthesuccessfulimplementationofthe2030Agenda.

01

BACKGROUND

ANDCONTEXT

‘Accesstoreliableinformationsaveslives.Misinformationandrumourscancostthem.Thissimplelessonisonewehavelearnttoourdetrimentinrecentyears.Whetherfightingaglobalpandemicorsupportingpublicdebate,weneedfree,reliableandindependentinformationasthefoundationuponwhichdemocraticsocietiesarebuilt.’

MsAudreyAzoulay,Director-GeneralofUNESCO,ontheoccasionoftheInternationalDayforUniversalAccesstoInformation28September2021

ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)9

1.1.AccesstoInformationandSustainableDevelopment

Conceptually,‘publicaccesstoinformation’referstoaneffectivesystemtomeetcitizens’rightstoseekandreceiveinformation,particularlythatheldbyoronbehalfofpublicauthorities.AccesstoinformationhasbeenrecognizedasakeyelementofsustainabledevelopmentsincetheadoptionoftheRioDeclarationatthe‘EarthSummit’in1992.4

In2015,the2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment5acknowledgedaccesstoinformationasanecessaryenablingmechanismfortransparent,accountableandparticipatorygovernance,theruleoflawandpeacefulsocieties.ItwasepitomizedbySustainableDevelopmentGoal(SDG)number16:‘Peace,JusticeandStrongInstitutions’.Target16.10callsforstatesto“ensurepublicaccesstoinformationandprotectfundamentalfreedoms,inaccordancewithnationallegislationandinternationalagreements”.

TheHumanRightsCouncilinits2020resolutiononfreedomofopinionandexpressionrecognizesthat“publicauthoritiesshouldstrivetomakeinformationavailable,whethertheinformationisproactivelypublishedelectronicallyorprovideduponrequest...”.6On10January2022,duringthe49thsessionoftheUNHumanRightsCouncil,thefirstreportbytheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights(OHCHR)onaccesstoinformationheldbypublicbodieswaspresented.7Itconstitutesauthoritativeguidancetostateactorsonthedevelopmentsoflawsandpoliciesonmattersaffectingthisright.Thetextofthereportfocusesongoodpracticesincludingtheelementsinthedesignofaccesstoinformationlaws,capacitybuildingandothermeasurestoensuretheireffectiveimplementation.

TheWindhoek+30Declaration8wasadoptedon3May2021,duringtheglobalcelebrationeventoftheWorldPressFreedomDay,affirmingtheneedtouphold

4

/en/conferences/environment/rio1992

5Adoptedin2015byall193UNmemberstates,the2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment(

/

post2015/transformingourworld/publication

)isa15-yearplanofaction“toendpoverty,protecttheplanetandensureprosperityforall,whilestrengtheninguniversalpeaceinlargerfreedom”.

6UNHumanRightsCouncil,Resolution‘Freedomofopinionandexpression’,

16July2020,A/HRC/RES/44/12,

/Home/Mobile?FinalSymbol=A%2FHRC%2FRES%2F44%2F

12&Language=E&DeviceType=Desktop&LangRequested=False

7

/record/3956409

8Windhoek+30Declaration:informationasapublicgood,WorldPressFreedomDay2021,

/ark:/48223/pf0000378158

informationasapublicgoodthatservesasasharedresourceforthewholeofhumanity.Emphasizingtheimportanceofpressfreedom,independenceandpluralismtoguaranteeaccesstoinformation,theDeclarationalsosetsoutrecommendationstosecureinformationasapublicgoodbyaddressingmediaviability,promotingInternetcompanytransparencyandenhancingcitizens’mediaandinformationliteracycompetencies.

Withintheperspectiveofthe2030Agenda,accesstoinformationremainscriticalforempoweringthepublictomakeinformeddecisions,holdinggovernmentsaccountable,evaluatingpublicofficialsinimplementingandmonitoringtheSDGs,andfacilitatingeffectivepublicparticipation.

1.2.UNESCOandthemonitoringandreportingonSDG

Indicator16.10.2

Standard-settingonmonitoringandreporting

FollowingtheapprovaloftheSDGframeworkin2017bytheUNGeneralAssembly,UNESCOwasdesignatedasthecustodianagencyforIndicator16.10.2.Underthismandate,UNESCOmonitorsandreportstotheUNSecretary-Generaleachyearon“thenumberofcountriesthatadoptandimplementconstitutional,statutoryand/orpolicyguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformation”,givingattentiontobothcomponents:“adoption”and“implementation”.

UNESCOcontinuestoreportnotonlyonprogressontheadoptionandtheimplementationofaccesstoinformationguaranteesworldwide,butalsopromotescapacitydevelopmenteffortsaroundtheissue.

UNESCOusesascoringsystem9toenableglobalanalysisoftheresults.Forexample,theanalysisofdatacollectedin2022,showsthatcountriesandterritorieswithlegalguaranteesonAccesstoInformationthatincludetheprovisionforanoversightinstitution–haveanaveragescoreof7.2,whilethosewithAccesstoInformationguaranteesbutnooversightinstitutionscoreonaverage3.3points.ThisfindingsuggeststhatcountriesandterritoriesthathaveaspecializedAccess

9Thesurveycomprises8questions,eachofthemvaluesbetween0and2.Uponthecompletionofthesurvey,acountrycangetatotalscoreof0-9,enablingittotrackprogressovertime.

10ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)

toInformationoversightinstitutionaregenerallylikelytoperformbetterwhileimplementingaccesstoinformationlegalframeworkincomparisonwiththosewithoutanoversightinstitutionorthosewhereframeworkisimplementedjustbythejudiciary.

Inits2020DecisiononMonitoringandReportingofSDGIndicator16.10.2,theIntergovernmentalCouncilofUNESCO’sInternationalProgrammefortheDevelopmentofCommunication(IPDC)encouragedMemberStatestoenhancelegalregulatoryframeworksonaccesstoinformationatthenationallevelaswellastheeffectiveimplementationoftheseframeworks,aspartoftheircommitmentstoadvancethe2030AgendaonSustainableDevelopment.TheCouncilencouragedMemberStatestorespondto‘UNESCO’sannualsurvey,andtoengage–whereapplicable–theoversightbodiesresponsibleforaccesstoinformationinthecollectionofdata’.10

In2021and2022,UNESCOinvitedallUNMemberStatestoparticipateinannualsurveysonSDGIndicator16.10.2.TohelpestablishareportinglinkforSDG16.10.2atthenationallevel,UNESCOsentthe2022surveyinvitationtoboththecentraloversightinstitutionsresponsibleforaccesstoinformation(e.g.,informationcommission/er;dataprotectionorprivacycommission/er;nationalhumanrightsinstitution;ombudsinstitution;department/ministry/agency)andnationalSDGfocalpoints(usuallythenationalstatisticsoffices).Insomecountriesandterritories,theinvitationwassenttoonlyoneoftheseentities,duetheabsenceofoneoranother.

UNESCOalsojoinedforceswithnetworksofoversightinstitutionsresponsibleforaccesstoinformation,suchastheInternationalConferenceofInformationCommissioners(ICIC)andregionalassociations:

ItisequallyimportanttostrengthentheinvolvementofcivilsocietyinthemonitoringandreportingonSDG16.10.2.WhiletheUNESCOsurveyprovidesanopportunityforgovernmentstomakeaself-assessmentagainsttheirownperformance,monitoringandreportingbycivilsocietycanofferalternativedataandperspective.Havingadirectaccesstothegrassrootslevel,civilsocietycanalsohelpensurethatwomenandvulnerablegroups,includingpersonswithdisabilities,areincludedintheAccesstoInformationagenda.TheIPDCsupportedprojectentitledVocesdelSur:MonitoringsafetyofjournalistandaccesstoinformationinColombiaintheframeworkofSDG16.10.1and16.10.2servesasanexample.

Capacity-buildingandawarenessraising

Inthe2020DecisionoftheIPDCCouncil,theIPDCBureauwasencouragedto‘continuesupportinggrass-rootsprojectsthatwillhelpMemberStatesindata-collectionandreportingonSDGindicator16.10.2onaccesstoinformation,includingstrengtheningmonitoringandreportingcapacitiesofoversightbodiesresponsibleforaccesstoinformation’.11

Inthisrespect,effortshavebeenmadetoassistMemberStatesinadvancingtherighttoinformation.IncooperationwiththeInternationalConferenceofInformationCommissioners,UNESCOpresentedatits13thmeetinginPuebla,Mexicofrom22to24June2022aself-pacedonlinecoursedevelopedwiththeCentreforLawandDemocracy(Canada)andexploredpossibilitiestoreinforceawiderangeofstakeholders’capacitiesonaccesstoinformationlawsandpolicies.UNESCOalsosupportedInformationCommissionersfromAfricatoparticipateinthemeetingandisworkingwiththecommissionerstofinalizetheAfricanNetworkofInformationCommissioners(ANIC)statutory

ReddeTransparenciayAccesoalaInformación

(RTA,theRegionalNetworkofAccesstoInformationPractitionersinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean)andtheAfricanNetworkofInformationCommissioners(ANIC),toincreaseparticipationofcountriesandterritoriesinthesurvey.SuchoutreachisimportantasthesenetworksplayanimportantroleinadvocatingforSDGmonitoringandreporting,aswellasmobilizingtheirmembersintakingpartinglobal-wideactivitiesrelatedtotheSDGs.

documentsandoutreachefforts.

Additionalsupporthasbeenprovidedtofacilitatecapacitydevelopmentinitiativesandawarenessraisingeffortsinseveralcountries,suchas,Ethiopia,Ghana,Mexico,Morocco,Namibia,Paraguay,Samoa,Senegal,SierraLeone,SouthSudan,ThailandandTunisia.12Examplesofsuchinitiativesinclude,providingcapacity-buildingassistancetotheinformationcommissionofSouthSudantodeveloptraining

10Thirty-secondsessionoftheIntergovernmentalCounciloftheInternationalProgrammefortheDevelopmentofCommunication(IPDC)Decisions,

/ark:/48223/pf0000374994/PDF/374994eng.pdf.

multi

11Thirty-secondsessionoftheIntergovernmentalCounciloftheInternationalProgrammefortheDevelopmentofCommunication(IPDC),Decisions,25-26November2020.Item12,para3,p.19.

/

ark:/48223/pf0000374994

12WhileactivitiesintheLatinAmericanregionweremostlycarriedoutthrougharegionalapproach,UNESCOisalsosupportingnationalinitiatives,forexampleinHondurasandinMexico

ASteadyPathForward:UNESCO2022ReportonPublicAccesstoInformation(SDG16.10.2)11

manualsonaccesstoinformationandlaunchinganadvocacyprojecttodraftapolicythatwillleadtothepreparationofaccesstoinformationlegislationin

Samoa.13

TheIPDCCouncil,inboththe201814and202015decisionsonmonitoringSDGindicator16.10.2,appreciatingVoluntaryNationalReports(VNRs)totheUNGeneralAssemblywhichhaveincludedanalysisbasedonIndicator16.10.2,furtherencouragedMemberStatestocontinuemonitoringandreportingprogressonSDGindicator16.10.2throughforthcomingVNRs.Inthisregard,participatingintheUNESCOSurveyonPublicAccesstoInformationhasbeenproventobeusefulforcountriesandterritoriesastheycanrepurposethedatasubmittedtothesurveyfortheirVNRs.Forinstance,Eswatini,Ghana,Greece,Jordan,Liberia,Malawi,andSaoTomeandPrincipehaveusedthedatacollectedthroughthesurveytoreportontheirAccesstoInformationprogressintheirVNRsin2022.

UNESCOalsocommissionedin2022,forinformationcommissionerson‘The

guidelines

Universal

PeriodicReviewanditspotentialtofosteraccesstoinformation’,16whichprovidepracticaladviceonhowtousetheUniversalPeriodicReview(UPR)exercisetopromotetherightofaccesstopublicinformation.Anotherpolicybrief,‘Accesstoinformationlaws:aguaranteeofinclusionanddisabilityrights:Issuebrief’,17publishedin2022,providesananalysisoftheinclusionofpersonswithdisabilitiesinAccesstoInformationlegislationsacrosstheglobe,basedontheexistingAccesstoInformationlawsin132countriesandterritories.Thereportfurtherpresentsaseriesofrecommendationstoadvancetherightsofpersonswithdisabilitieswithinthescopeoftherightofaccesstoinformation.Anotherpolicybriefwasdevelopedon‘Promotinggenderequityintherightofaccesstoinformation’,18focusingonhowwomencaneffectivelyexercisetheirrightofaccesstoinformation.Withaspecificfocusongenderparity,thebriefinvestigatesinternationalandnationalmechanismstohelp

overcometheobstaclesthatwomenfaceinexercisingtheirrighttoinformation.

WithintheframeworkofUNESCO’sCommunicationandInformationprogrammeaimedtostrengthentherighttoinformation,thedevelopmentofupdatedPolicyGuidelinesfortheDevelopmentandPromotionofGovernmentalPublicDomainInformationisongoing.ThenewversionoftheGuidelinesistobedevelopedtostrengthennationalframeworksofAccesstoInformationandtheirimplementationbyassistingcountriesandstakeholdersinassessingthecompatibilityoftheirnationalAccesstoInformationlegalandpolicyframeworkwithinternationalstandard-settinginstrumentsontherighttoinformationandconsideringSDG16.10.2nationalcommitments.TheseGuidelinesaremeanttobestrictlyadvisory;theyarenotintendedasaprescriptiveornormativeinstrument.

TheannualcelebrationoftheInternationalDayforUniversalAccesstoInformationon28SeptemberconstitutesakeystoneofUNESCO’sawarenessraisingeffortsonaccesstoinformation.TheDaycontinuestoprovideaplatformforUNESCOtodiscusskeyfindingsofdatacollectiononSDG16.10.2,aswellastodisseminatetakeawaysfromstudiesonaccesstoinformationandcross-cuttingissues,suchasgenderequalityandinclusionofpersonswithdisabilities.In2021,thethemeoftheInternationalDayforUniversalA