Freedom of information (FOI) – also commonly referred to ‘access to information’ or ‘right to know’ or ‘right to information’ – is a fundamental and undeniable basic human right. The right to access public information is the right of every person to know, to have access to the information s/he needs to make free choices and to live an autonomous life.The 2002 Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights reaffirms the ‘fundamental importance of freedom of expression and information as an individual human right, as a cornerstone of democracy and as a means of ensuring respect for all human rights and freedoms’.According to UNESCO, 11 (eleven) African countries have passed national FOI laws (Angola, Ethiopia, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe), while draft FOI laws in other African states are at different stages in the process towards their adoption. The implementation of FOI legislation in Africa has faced several challenges.”

For women’s rights organizations, the right of access to information would capacitate women and girls to effectively influence financing for health, service delivery, compete favorably in the economic market, promote and protect their human rights including access to land and ownership, make decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health, among others.

Since 2009, FEMNET has been championing collective participation of women’s rights organizations in lobbying for the enactment and implementation of FOI laws in their countries. This year, we are keen to highlight the latest updates/news and keep the momentum especially in supporting the enactment and implementation of FOI laws as well as increasing awareness amongst women’s rights organizations in linking women’s rights issues to FOI laws.

Your Responses to the following 5 questions will shape our advocacy actions and other interventions.

Kindly submit responses by end of day 20th October 2015.

Thank you.

* Required

1. Do you think public institutions/bodies in your country hold information you and/or other women and girls may need to better your/ their lives? *

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

*

If yes, what types of information? If no, why not?

2. Do you think women’s rights organizations in your country have a role to play in making sure that governments avail information that women and girls need to better their lives? *

• Yes
• No

If yes, which role? If no, why not?

3. Currently, what information does your government hold that your organization needs to support the women and girls with whom you work? Please name as many types of information/documents as you can; and provide real life examples of the type of information your organization needs. *

Prompts: For example, information on where to get land title deeds; information on loans available for starting a business or farming; Information on family planning methods and associated effects; budget for maternal health; procedures for starting a business; information on laws/rights to own land etc.

4. Have you been engaged in advocacy and lobbying for the enactment and/or implementation of the Freedom of Information/ Access to Information laws in your country? *

• Yes
• No

*

If yes, how have you engaged? If no, why not?

5. What strategies have you and/or other women’s rights organizations in your country put in place towards championing the enactment and implementation of Freedom of Information/ Access to Information laws? *

Click the Submit button below to register your responses.