International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023; September 28th.

FORUM:" The importance of the online space for access to information." International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023.

The panel discussions will focus on the following topics:"Technology for Democracy and Sustainable Development", "Internet connectivity as an enabler of the ability to exercise rights online, with a particular focus on access to information" "Judicial and Information regulators’ perspective on accessibility and Internet connectivity". Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #IDUAI, #AccesstoinfoDay, #28september, #RightToKnow, #Onlinespace.

WEBINARS: Join the United Nations Library’s virtual event in celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023 on September 28th, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. ET. More information and registration 

EVENTS: This year, the global celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information 2023 will be hold in Oxford, United Kingdom on September 28th 2023 from  9:00 am to 7;00 pm , and will center around the theme of "the importance of the online space for access to information."

OPENING - Video presenting the International Day for Universal Access to Information (2 minutes)

Moderator: Mr James Deane, Co-founder of, and consultant to, the International Fund for Public Interest Media and former Director of Policy and Learning, BBC Media Action (UK)Welcoming Remarks from Professor John Armour, incoming Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford
Opening Statement from Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and United Nations
Video Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO


High-Level Roundtable: Guaranteeing Access to Information in the Age of the Internet.

The high-level roundtable "Guaranteeing Access to Information in the Age of the Internet" will discuss access to information and internet shutdowns and restrictions in the context of the Vienna Declaration adopted at the World Conference on Human Rights, in 1993. It will call on effective access to the Internet and other digital technologies for the sake of ensuring fundamental human rights.

Moderator: Mr James Deane, Co-founder of, and consultant to, the International Fund for Public Interest Media and former Director of Policy and Learning, BBC Media Action (UK)

Speakers:Mr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (UNESCO)
- Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and the UN) and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (UK)
- Mr Joe Powell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Open Government Partnership)
- Mr John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner (UK)
- Ms Kate O'Regan, Director, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights of the University of Oxford (UK/South Africa)

- Rapporteur: Ms Anjali Bhardwaj Sharma - National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (India)


Panel 1: Technology for Democracy and Sustainable Development.

Panel 1 "Technology for Democracy and Sustainable Development" (in cooperation with Access Now and Freedom Online Coalition) will shed light on the complex dynamics and evolving landscape surrounding access to information in the digital era. This theme will encompass discussions on the challenges and opportunities posed by the internet, the significance of accessing information online, and the implications of internet shutdowns and online censorship.

Moderator: Ms Mahsa Alimardani, ARTICLE 19 and Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford (Iran/Canada)

Speakers:

- Mr Kanbar Hossein Bor, Head of the Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK)
- Mr Brett Solomon, Executive Director, Access Now (USA)
Mr Preetam Maloor, Head of the Emerging Technologies Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU/online)
- Ms Emilar Gandhi, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Policy Initiatives at Meta (UK/Zimbabwe)
- Mr Hilmi Ghalib, Executive Director, Yemeni Organization for Development & Technology (Yemen)

Rapporteur: Ms Ilaria Fevola, Legal Officer, ARTICLE 19 (Italy)


The Official Ceremony of Signing the UNESCO-APRM Memorandum of Understanding.
Signatories:

- Mr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication & Information (UNESCO)
è Mr Eddy Maloka, Chief Executive Officer, African Peer Review Mechanism (African Peer Review Mechanism)




Panel 2: Internet Connectivity as an Enabler of the Ability to Exercise Rights Online, with a Particular Focus on ATI

Panel 2 "Internet connectivity as an enabler of the ability to exercise rights online, with a particular focus on access to information" (in cooperation with Foianet and Article 19) will focus on the role of internet access in facilitating the exercise of rights online, and access to information. It will underscore the need for equal and unrestricted online access to foster open dialogue, diverses opinions, and the free flow of information.

Moderator: Mr. Toby Mendel, Chair, Freedom of Information Advocates Network (Canada)

Speakers:

- Ms Quinn McKew, Executive Director, ARTICLE 19 (USA)
- Ms Celeste Fernandez, Co-director, Civil Association for Equality and Justice (Argentina)
- Mr Marcelo Daher, Human Rights Officer, United Nations (OHCHR)
- Ms Mitali Mukherjee, Acting Director, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, University of Oxford (UK/India)
- Ms Emma Cantera, Lead on transparency and access to information, Public Governance Directorate (OECD)

Rapporteur: Mr Gilbert Sendugwa, Executive Director at Africa Freedom of Information Centre (Uganda)


Panel 3: Judicial and Information Regulators’ Perspective on Accessibility and Internet Connectivity.

Panel 3 "Judicial and Information regulators’ perspective on accessibility and Internet connectivity" (in cooperation with the International Conference of Information Commissioners and representatives of the judiciary) will focus on the legal frameworks and mechanisms to promote transparency, accountability, and access to information. Experts perspective will highlight the importance of fostering a conducive environment for access to information, addressing challenges and promoting best practices.

Moderator: Ms Nicole Stremlau, rofessor of the University of Johannesburg and Head of the Comparative Media Law & Policy Program, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies of the University of Oxford (South Africa)

Speakers:

-  Ms Justice Atoki Dupe, Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Nigeria)
- Ms Helena Jäderblom, Justice and President, Supreme Administrative Court (Sweden)
- Ms Blanca Lilia Ibarra Cadena, On behalf of the International Conference of Information Commissioners and President of the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Personal Data Protection of México (Mexico)
- Mr Ricardo C. Pérez Manrique, President, Inter-American Court of Human Rights (Costa Rica)
- Ms Lucy N’dungu, Information Commissioner, Office of the Ombudsman of Kenya (Kenya)

Rapporteur: Mr Joan Barata, Senior Legal Fellow at Justitia - Future of Free Speech (Spain).


CLOSING REMARKS

- Mr Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (UNESCO)
- Ms Kate O'Regan, Director, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights of the University of Oxford (UK/South Africa)
- Mr Kanbar Hossein Bor, Head of the Democratic Governance and Media Freedom Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK)

Register to Participate to the IDUAI2023.