The Government of Ghana, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will host the 2024 Global Conference on Universal Access to Information, scheduled to take place on October 1 and 2, 2024, in Accra, Ghana, with the theme “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.”
Organized by UNESCO in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Information, the conference aims to assess progress and address the need for accelerated global efforts in promoting access to information since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is commemorated annually on September 28 following the United Nations General Assembly declaration of this day in October 2019, pursuant to UNESCO’s 2015 proclamation.
Despite advancements since the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 was adopted, nearly one-third of UN member states still lack access to information legislation. The IDUAI 2024 Global Conference aims to emphasize the importance of mainstreaming Access to Information (ATI) laws to safeguard fundamental freedoms.
The conference will offer a platform for government representatives and civil society actors to showcase how ATI policies are being implemented across various government sectors. Discussions will also highlight the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in ensuring coherent policy implementation across public and private sectors, with a focus on good practices from Africa that foster peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
The IDUAI 2024 Global Conference main objectives are to: inspire governments and civil society to share best practices for mainstreaming access to information; assess the current state of access to information as per SDG 16.10.2, and identify areas for improvement; strengthen ties between government institutions, NGOs, and international bodies to promote and protect the right to information; reaffirm commitments to this right as a fundamental human right; and emphasize the importance of transparency and public participation through mainstreaming access to information across government institutions.
The conference will feature a high-level inter-ministerial panel discussing improvements in mainstreaming access to information across government sectors. Additional panels will address critical areas such as the environment, health, and information and communications technologies (ICTs), and the role of standard-setting instruments from organizations like the African Union and the Council of Europe.
The IDUAI 2024 Global Conference will build on previous discussions and commitments, including those outlined in the Oxford Statement adopted at the Global Conference of IDUAI 2023. The event will also address the importance of digital platforms in enabling proactive disclosure and discuss progress made in reducing internet shutdowns and slowdowns.
It will conclude with the adoption of the Accra Statement, titled “Harnessing the Power of Data for Positive Change: A Commitment to Access to Information,” which was drafted by scholars from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. A publication commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Model Law on Access to Information in Africa, prepared by Fesmedia Africa representatives and the office of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, will also be launched.
