Photo: Collected
Today, 28 September, is International Right to Information Day. The day is observed across the world every year to bring to the fore the importance of citizens’ right to know information, transparency, accountability and access to reliable information.
Information is one of the main foundations of people’s awareness and decision-making. If citizens have accurate information in hand about government institutions, public services, development activities or various matters of public interest, they can become more aware of their rights and responsibilities. At the same time, the free flow of information also plays a big role in ensuring the transparency and accountability of public and private institutions.
With the rapid spread of technology, access to information has become much easier than before. However, the spread of false information, misleading information and disinformation has also grown in step with it. As a result, alongside ensuring access to information, the ability to verify which information is accurate and reliable has now become equally important.
UNESCO considers that universal access to accurate and reliable information is directly related to human rights and is one of the foundations of building a transparent, accountable and inclusive society. The issues of protecting the integrity of information in the digital age, tackling disinformation and ensuring access to information for all are also getting importance in the discussions of this year’s day.
The scope of the right to information is not limited only to the opportunity to get information. Also bound up with it are the questions of civic awareness, participation, accountability and protection of the public interest. So International Right to Information Day, besides making citizens aware of their rights, also brings the importance of accurate and reliable information to the fore afresh.
