International Day for Universal Access to Information 2020
The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) was declared on 15th October 2019. It was at the 74th UN General Assembly to be held on 28th September. The UNESCO General Conference firstly assigned the day as the Access to Information Day. It was introduced in November 2015 and was first observed on 28th of September 2016.
Background
On 17 November 2015, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) pronounced 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information (UNESCO 38 C/70).
Taking into account that few common society associations and government bodies have embraced and presently praise this recognition. The UN General Assembly, in its resolution 74/5 from 15 October 2019, additionally received 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Universal Access to Information implies that everybody has the privilege to look for, get and give data. Access to information is increasingly more perceived as an essential for supportable turn of events and for asserting common liberties. Hence, with SDG 16, the objective (16.10) to elevate access to data is likewise secured in the 2030 Agenda.
Theme
The theme of International Day for Universal Access to Information 2020 is, “Access to Information – Saving lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!”.
IDUAI 2020 will be center around to right to information in the midst of emergency. Also, on the benefits of having protected, legal and additionally strategy ensures for community to data to spare lives, fabricate trust and help the plan of manageable strategies through and past the COVID-19 emergency.
UNESCO and its intergovernmental programs – the International Program for Development of Communication and the Information for All Program. It gave a stage and edge to all the partners to partake in global conversations on strategy and rules in the territory of access to information. The two projects likewise empower positive condition for ATI to thrive through the advancement of undertakings intended to reinforce open science, multilingualism, ICTs for disabled and marginalized, and media and data proficiency.
Steps taken in India for citizens to ensure Access to Information
The law has created many provisions to ensure that any Indian citizen could easily access information from different governmental departments in the country.
• Any citizen can ask for any information to any governmental department through a handwritten letter or electronic email.
• Information will be provided in the official language of the state or in English or Hindi.
• If the person is illiterate, then there is a provision for him to access the information by orally dictating it at the state public information office or with public information office.
• The person filing the information has the option of remaining anonymous. But he has to provide a postal address so that records could be sent to him/her.
• People below the poverty line are exempted to pay the fees for filing RTI.
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