AtI Changes People’s Lives – An Advocacy Campaign for Right To Know Day 2018

Brussels, September 2018 – To mark the 28 September International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), Media4Democracy is releasing a social media advocacy campaign “Access to Information Changes People’s Lives”.  The campaign is meant for EU Delegations worldwide to raise awareness on the universal right of access to information (ATI) – a simple, yet potentially profound principle that government information belongs to the people they serve.

With this Media4Democracy has produced a 60 second animation, based on a true story showing the positive impact of access to information on normal citizens’ lives. This case of Margaret shows how a citizen’s ability to exercise her right to know can lead to improved institutional accountability, good governance and improved public service delivery. It also shows how women and girls can be empowered through ATI and that an area as important as health can be positively impacted for a whole community with a simple request for information.

The animation will be shared on the Day by EU institutions and accessible through Media4Democracy @media4dem on Twitter and it can be shared on FB, Twitter, Instagram and linked-in with the official hashtag #RightToKnow.

Supporting Access to Information – A Practical Guide for EU Delegations, a core resource for EUDs, will be published later in 2018 and will provide a thorough approach to the policy, standards, practical recommendations and case studies on access to information. EU Delegations will receive the guide in eletronic versions and print version will be available from DEVCO B1 and Media4Democracy.