The Information Commissioner's Office is seeking to strengthen the provision of information under the Right to Information Act by working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to find solutions to challenges faced by state institutions.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the Commission said the number of requests for information aimed at promoting transparency in state affairs continues to increase year on year. So far this year, the Commission has received 745 cases and concluded more than 260.
Despite operating with limited staff, the Commission receives an average of at least four submissions each day. It cautioned, however, against viewing the growing number of submissions as a sign of progress, arguing that genuine progress would mean state institutions proactively making information public and reducing the need for people to submit individual requests.
Greater proactive disclosure would ease access to information for the public while also reducing the burden on state institutions, the Commission said. It therefore appealed to all state institutions, with respect and sincerity, to give greater attention to making information publicly available.
Access to information is also crucial to building a transparent state free from corruption. However, some institutions continue to give insufficient attention to this responsibility, which the Commission acknowledged may stem from difficulties they face in providing information.
To address these challenges, work is under way with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in connection with its development programme to explore arrangements that could provide institutions with the necessary support.
Work is also under way with UNDP through its development programme to explore measures that could help institutions overcome these difficulties.
The Commission further stressed that the right to seek and obtain information should not merely remain a legal principle written into the Constitution or legislation. It said the right is essential to shaping a democratic future and building a peaceful and secure society.