The African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) Campaign

The Working Group (WG) of the campaign for an African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) is a network of civil society organisations that are working on the promotion of access to information in Africa. A working group, made up of nine organisations, was set up in 2009 to develop a platform for joint activities that would lead to:

  1. The adoption of a comprehensive instrument, which would advance the right of access to information in all its dimensions, regionally and internationally.
  2. The recognition of 28 September as International Access to Information Day to serve as an annual event to combine forces in multi-stakeholder advocacy actions.

In September 2011, the APAI Declaration, a regional instrument elaborating the right of access to information within a regional context, was adopted. In November 2015, UNESCO adopted a resolution declaring 28 September of every year as International Day on Universal Access to Information.

The organisationations that form the APAI WG are:

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC)

Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) is a pan-African NGO and resource centre that promotes the right of access to information through comparative research, coordinating regional advocacy, facilitating information-sharing and capacity building.
www.africafoicentre.org

ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 envisages a world where people are free to speak their opinions, to participate in decision-making and to make informed choices about their lives.
www.article19.org

Federation of African Journalists (FAJ)

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) was launched during a congress in Abuja, Nigeria in 2007. This has Since been followed by three working congresses – one in Nairobi in 2008, one in Harare in 2010 and one in Casablanca in 2013.
www.ifj.org

Highway Africa

The Highway Africa Conference is hosted by Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies in partnership with Corporate South Africa, development agencies and media associations.
www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

The MFWA is a regional independent non-governmental organization. It is the biggest and most influential media development and freedom of expression advocacy organisation in West Africa with national partner organisations in all 16 countries of the region.
www.mfwa.org

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

MISA focuses on achieving sustainable, lasting change to make southern Africa a safer place for media workers. We envision a world where everyone, including netizens, citizen journalists, activists, scholars and artists can practice their fundamental right of free expression.
www.misa.org

Namibia Media Trust

The Trust aims to reflect and promote the values and principles of press freedom, free speech and independent journalism. Activities of the Trust include advocacy and policy interventions to promote media freedom, free expression and access to information in Namibia and beyond.
www.nmt.africa

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) was established in 1993 as an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization for the purpose of, among other things, promoting and protecting media freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria.

Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC)

ODAC’s mission is to promote open and transparent democracy; foster a culture of corporate and government accountability; and assist people in South Africa to be able to realize their human rights.
www.opendemocracy.org.za

The African Editors' Forum (TAEF)

The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF) is a body of Editors and senior editorial executives from all over Africa.
APAI Story

It started in Namibia’s capital Windhoek, eight years ago in 2009, with a meeting of like-minded organisations. Advocates passionate about media freedom and democratic development in Africa, came together to plan the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration. It continued with the successful implementation of an African conference which would kick off a powerful on-going African campaign.

Read More

Advocacy Timeline

28 September, originally called Right to Know day, has been celebrated globally since 2002 as result of a conference of international freedom of information experts establishing a coalition of advocates -FOAInet, held from 26 to 28 September, 2002 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Read More

Campaign Milestones

Since its adoption, the APAI Declaration in 2011 has had a positive influence on the policy environment in Africa.

Regionally, between 2011 and 2016, the number of countries with access to information laws has almost quadrupled.

Increased commitments have been made by governments with regard to the effective implementation of such laws or the drafting of new access to information legislation, to enable them to realise their full potential in accordance with the principles stated in the declaration and international standards.

A campaign milestone was achieved in May 2012 when the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights adopted Resolution 222:

Authorising the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa to expand Article 4 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression to include access to information,

And recommending that the AU officially recognise September 28th as International Right to Information day in Africa.

In May 2013, the Pan African Parliament adopted the Midrand Declaration on Press Freedom in Africa, which further recognises the APAI Declaration, and calls on AU Member States to review and adopt access to information laws.

In November 2015, the 38th General Conference of UNESCO adopted a resolution declaring 28 September of every year International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

The APAI campaign lobbied strongly and carried out several lobby missions for the placement of several issues on the agenda of the Executive Board, requesting that UNESCO, through its General Conference to affirm 28 September as International Right to Information Day and to endorse the APAI Declaration.

The African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) Campaign

The Working Group (WG) of the campaign for an African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) is a network of civil society organisations that are working on the promotion of access to information in Africa. A working group, made up of nine organisations, was set up in 2009 to develop a platform for joint activities that would lead to:

  1. The adoption of a comprehensive instrument, which would advance the right of access to information in all its dimensions, regionally and internationally.
  2. The recognition of 28 September as International Access to Information Day to serve as an annual event to combine forces in multi-stakeholder advocacy actions.

In September 2011, the APAI Declaration, a regional instrument elaborating the right of access to information within a regional context, was adopted. In November 2015, UNESCO adopted a resolution declaring 28 September of every year as International Day on Universal Access to Information.

14 Key Principles

1

Fundamental Right Accessible to Everyone

Access to information is a fundamental human right, it is open to everyone.

2

Maximum Disclosure

All information held by public bodies is public and should be subject to disclosure (except in limited circumstances).

3

Established in Law

The right to access to information shall be established by law in each African country.

4

Applies to Public Bodies & Private Bodies

The obligation to access to information shall apply to all public bodies as well as government owned or controlled private bodies.

5

Clear and Unambiguous Process

The process to obtain information should be simple and fast.

6

Obligation to Publish Information

Public and relevant private bodies shall be obliged to proactively release information relating to their activities that is of public interest.

7

Language and Accessibility

Information should be available in the language of the person seeking it, and in an accessible location and format.

8

Limited Exemptions

The right to access to information shall only be limited where there would be a significant harm if the information was released.

9

Oversight Bodies

Independent bodies should be established to monitor and hold government bodies and relevant private entities to account.

10

Right to Personal Data

All persons have a right to access and correct their personal data held by third parties.

11

Whistleblower Protection

Adequate protections against different forms of sanctions should be provided for those who disclose information on wrong-doing and information in the public interest.

12

Right of Appeal

Everyone has the right to appeal administratively any action that hinders or denies access to information or any failure to proactively disclose information.

13

Duty to Collect and Manage Information

Public and relevant private bodies have a duty to collect information of public interest on behalf of their citizens.

14

Duty to Fully Implement

Public and relevant private bodies have an obligation to ensure the law is fully implemented.

African states with ATI laws

APAI Africa

Angola (2002)

Benin (2015)

Burkina Faso (2015)

Cote D'Ivoire (2014)

Ethiopia (2008)

Ghana (2019)

Guinea (2010)

Ivory Coast (2013)

Kenya (2016)

Liberia (2010)

Malawi (2017)

Morocco (2018)

Mozambique (2015)

Niger (2011)

Nigeria (2011)

Rwanda (2013)

Seychelles (2018)

Sierra Leone (2013)

South Africa (2000)

South Sudan (2013)

Sudan (2013)

Tanzania (2016)

Togo (2016)

Tunisia (2016)

Uganda (2005)

Zimbabwe (2002)

Why it matters

Information is power. People have to realise that without information they will never be able to better their lives.

Adv. Pansy Tlakula,
AU Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information

Access to information is vital for every development outcome. In this video the link between access to information and other fundamental rights and freedoms is highlighted.

Resources

APAI - Africa's Gift to the World

Africa’s Gift to the World

Pounding Pavements, Knocking on Doors – a campaign for access to information in Africa

This is the story of the journey taken by African civil society actors and governments to guarantee access to information is recognised as a fundamental human right and commemorated as the International Day of Universal Access to Information on 28 September.

Download Publication (PDF, 1,4 MB)

APAI - State of Access to Information in Africa 2017

State of Access to Information in Africa 2017

As noted, the APAI Declaration was adopted on 19 September 2011, upon a motion for adoption moved by Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and seconded by Honourable Norris Tweah, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism for the Republic of Liberia.

Download Publication (PDF, 1 MB)