UN: Remove all barriers to right to information
The UN emphasizes that removing barriers to information is essential for democracy and development, noting that despite legal frameworks in many states, effective implementation remains rare. Governments frequently restrict online and offline access, severely impacting critical services and civic engagement. This gap between law and practice undermines the right to information, which serves as the foundational "oxygen" for flourishing societies. This dynamic is highly relevant to open data because transparency cannot exist without accessible, usable information. When citizens and media are blocked from accessing government-held data, accountability mechanisms fail. Effective open data policies require not just publication, but the removal of technical and legal barriers that prevent public access, ensuring that data truly empowers communities to engage with civic processes. Furthermore, robust access to information enables better-informed decision-making and holds power structures accountable. Without this flow of information, efforts to address global challenges like climate change or pandemics suffer from exclusion and lack of public participation. Open data initiatives must therefore focus on practical accessibility to ensure that transparency translates into meaningful democratic participation and improved development outcomes for all.
Source: philstar.comPublished on 2023-10-02
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