(with thanks to Rachel Stancliffe, HIFA Steering Group member)
International Day for Universal Access to Information, 28 September
Below are extracts froom the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) website, and a comment from me.
https://www.oecd-forum.org/posts/international-day-of-universal-access-t...
As we celebrate International Day for Universal Access to Information, we must dedicate ourselves to assuring that this right is in fact “universal.”
Access to information is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and is critical for both governments and the people they serve. A free flow of public information can increase public confidence and trust in government; make public administration more efficient and effective; improve decision-making; increase participation; and help people benefit from the many public services that their local governments provide...
The Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign emanated from the recognition that while women may be the most in need of information, they often are excluded from its benefits.
In a world in which mis- and disinformation thrives, it is essential that access to accurate and timely public information is promoted.
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COMMENTS (NPW):
1. "Access to information is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights". Yes it is but unfortunately it's not clear from the UDHR that this includes "access to reliable healthcare information". UNESCO defines this right as follows: "Access to Information can be defined as the right to seek, receive and impart information held by public bodies." HIFA's work with the New York Law School concluded that access to reliable healthcare information is a *determinant* of the right to health, but we were unable to find the legal basis for describing such access as a right in itself.
2. What steps can we, HIFA, take to promote our goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information as being *at least* as important as the right 'to seek, receive and impart information held by public bodies'? More than 400 health and development organisations worldwide endorse the HIFA vision. How do we take it to the next level?
Looking forward to your inputs.
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Global Healthcare Information Network: Working in official relations with WHO
