FOI Regional Workshop Calls on African Governments to Ensure Citizens’ Right to Access information

A regional workshop on Freedom of Information in Africa has called on African governments to guarantee and respect the right of access to information consistent with African and international law and best practice. Participants at the workshop also affirmed that access to information is essential for the protection of other human rights and contributes to accountability, social stability, security and economic development

Representatives of 30 civil society organisations from 16 African countries met in Lagos on September 22 and 23, 2006 to discuss ways to promote the right of access to information held by public authorities and, in particular, to share experiences regarding strategies for advancing  the adoption of laws that fully protect this right.

The participants expressed concern that Africa is lagging behind in the global movement towards the adoption of Freedom of Information Laws.

Participating organizations agreed to establish a regional Freedom of Information Centre in Africa, where experiences garnered in the different countries can be pooled and shared among civil society activists and which will provide technical assistance to organizations involved in any stage of Freedom of Information advocacy or implementation. This is to provide a platform for cooperation and collaborative activities among civil society organizations in the region.

The Workshop organized by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) in collaboration with the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI),received expert presentations from Freedom of Information advocates from Albania, Bulgaria, and the United States.

Organizations represented at the workshop were Media Rights Agenda, Nigeria; Open Society Justice Initiative, Nigeria; West African Civil Society Forum, Nigeria; International Press Centre, Nigeria; Media Foundation for West Africa, Ghana; Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia, Liberia; and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Ghana.

Other organizations that were represented include Network of African Freedom of Expression Organizations, Ghana; Centre for Media Studies and Peace-Building, Liberia; Liberia Democracy Watch, Liberia; Society for Democratic Initiatives, Sierra Leone; National Forum on Human Rights, Sierra Leone; Gambia Press Union, The Gambia; Citizens Governance Initiative, Cameroon; Transparency International – Cameroon; International Federation of Journalists - Africa Office, Senegal; La Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme, Senegal ; and Observatoire Togolais des Médias, Togo among others.

They adopted the Lagos Declaration on the Right of Access to Information