Access to Information: An enabling and fundamental human right
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.
Read APAI Declaration here
African Platform on Access to Information
PDF, 220 KB
Plateforme africaine sur l’accès à l’information
PDF, 222 KB
المنهاج الأفرٌقً المعنً بالح صول ع لى ا لمعلومات
Plataforma Africana para Acesso à Informação
PDF, 211 KB