NEPA Access to Information News Items & Updates

Right to Know Week 2020: UNESCO Reports and Issue Briefs

'Right to Know Day' has been celebrated for 18 years now in Jamaica, annually on 28th of September. The celebration of this Day began in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2002 and has been dedicated to the promotion of access to information worldwide.

This year marks the first year since the 74th UN General Assembly proclaimed September 28 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) at the UN level in October 2019. The United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference had proclaimed in 2015, after the adoption of the 38 C/Resolution 57 that September 28 of every year be celebrated as International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). The slogan this year is “Access to Information - Saving Lives, Building Trust, Bringing Hope!” We will be utilizing this theme this year reflecting the significance of the commemoration of IDUAI as a UN Day and the importance of the right to know in times of crisis, particularly during the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please click on the link below to view documents from UNESCO:
Access to Information: A New Promise for Sustainable Development
Elections and Media in Digital Times
Journalism, Press Freedom and COVID 19
Safety of Journalists Covering Protests
The Right to Information in Times of Crisis
World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2017/2018
World Trends In Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Regional Overview of Latin America and the Caribbean 2017/2018

The United Kingdom Moves to Extend Freedom of Information Laws

The international community continues to place pressure on governments to implement further legislation which will give citizens better access to information held by government bodies. The article below (click on the link) is not just note worthy but is also indicative of where the Government of Jamaica will inevitably be in the near future due to our long history of adopting legislations from the United Kingdom and other parts of the developed world. click here to view article

Additional news item on freedom of information: click here

Recommendations for amendments to and implementation of the Access to Information Act (2002)

The Joint Select Committee of Parliament which is chaired by Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects Honourable Daryl Vaz, has completed the review of the ATI Act. The recommendations can be viewed at the following link: click here to view

NEPA ATI Improvement Strategy

NEPA is committed to implementing the Access to Information (ATI) Act of 2002 and the Access to Information (ATI) Regulations of 2003, and also to provide Jamaica’s citizens with the highest quality service possible in processing applications under the Act.

The Agency has therefore embarked upon a special initiative to continuously improve the application process. Applicants can therefore expect to receive quality customer service as we work towards improving the process in the interest of the public.

IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW!