History of Right to Know Day
Internationally, RTK Day began on September 28, 2002, in
Sofia,
Bulgaria at an international meeting of access to information advocates who proposed that a day be dedicated to the promotion of freedom of information worldwide. The goal of RTK
Day is to raise global
awareness of individuals’ right to access government information and to promote access to information as a fundamental human right. The core principles of Right to Know as expressed by the Open Society Justice Initiative are:
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Access to information is a right of everyone.
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Access is the rule; secrecy is the exception!
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The right applies to all public bodies.
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Making requests should be simple, speedy, and free.
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Officials have a duty to assist requestors.
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Refusals must be justified.
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The public interest takes precedence over secrecy.
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Everyone has the right to appeal an adverse decision.
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Public bodies should proactively publish core information.
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The right should be guaranteed by an independent body.
Since 2002, the popularity and scope of RTK Day has grown immensely and celebratons now include more than 60 non-governmental organizations and information commissions/commissioners. The RTK Day is now celebrated in over 40 nations worldwide.
Some of the festivities that have taken place in the past to commemorate the Day included conferences and debates involving government officials, NGOs and others; release of special reports and studies on the subject of ATI and the Right to Know; and awards in recognition of those who support ATI rights.
