{"id":4160,"date":"2024-09-28T08:51:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T07:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/?p=4160"},"modified":"2024-09-30T12:00:52","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T11:00:52","slug":"international-day-of-universal-access-to-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.napier.ac.uk\/library\/2024\/09\/28\/international-day-of-universal-access-to-information\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Universal Access to Information"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Day of Universal Access to Information<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Universal access to information is not only recognised as possessing great significance worldwide, but is also viewed as a fundamental right protected by many constitutions across the globe. Access to information encourages transparency, democracy and progression. It also allows the public to hold public authorities and constituencies to account as well as allowing for informed debates and negotiations to occur, thus being more productive in practice. In today’s digital era today, it empowers individuals and groups across the world and fosters innovative practices and actions. The promotion of inclusivity, social progression, and the encouragement of informed negotiations, cannot be understated.<\/p>\n

Background\u2026<\/em><\/h2>\n

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) officially proclaimed the 28th<\/sup> of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). This was declared on the 17th<\/sup> of November 2015 in recognition of the importance of universal access to information and the right to seek, receive and transmit information. Four years later, the International Day for Universal Access to information was also proclaimed on the 28th<\/sup> of September on a UN level by the 74th<\/sup> UN General Assembly in October 2019. From 2016 onwards, the International Day for Universal Access promoted by UNESCO had already spanned across roughly 26 countries around the world.<\/p>\n

The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) primarily promotes a worldwide commitment to ensure that individuals and groups across the globe can feasibly access, search for and openly communicate information. The right to universal access to information greatly coincides with the right to freedom of the press. As the media relies on the feasibility of receiving and seeking out information to provide the public with crucial updates or information about issues of interest. Another relevant act is the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), enacted in over 70 countries across the globe and enshrined in constituencies in over 80 countries overall.<\/p>\n

The Freedom of Information Act (FOI)\u2026<\/em><\/h3>\n

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) allows for citizens to access information held by public authorities. It does this by enforcing that public authorities publish certain or significant information about their activities as well as allowing for members of the public to request information from public authorities as a given right. The Act itself covers all information recorded and held by public authorities and institutions throughout England, Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as UK-wide public authorities in Scotland. The key principles of the FOI act are as follows:<\/p>\n