The latest version of the draft declaration for an African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) is now available online for public commentary. The Declaration will be presented to over 250 delegates at the Pan African Conference on Access to Information (PACAI), which will be held in Cape Town from September 17th and 19th.

The APAI working group is proud to announce that after five weeks of public commentary, input, and revisions, the fourth version of the declaration has been finalized, reflecting the views and opinions of groups, individuals, and organizations from across the continent. Thus the declaration is a truly reflective document that represents the concerns of diverse sectors of society, particularly marginalized groups, who are disproportionally affected where access is denied.

The current declaration, not only sets out principles on Access to Information, but also sets out how these principles should be applied, taking in to account the various issues that affect different sectors of society. The declaration makes special provision for children, women, disadvantaged communities, health care, and education, amongst others.

Commentary and input included invaluable contributions from campaign partners, UNESCO and the African Union Commission, as well as groups representing various sectors in society.

The public can visit the PACAI Conference website at www.pacaia.org to comment on the declaration and have their views heard. All comments will be considered in the final drafting of the declaration.

For more information on the Windhoekplus20 campaign, please visit us at www.windhoekplus20.org.

Enquiries:       Karen Malone

Specialist – Media Law Policy and Advocacy
MISA Regional Secretariat
21 Johann Albrecht Str.
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: +264 61 232975
Fax: +264 61 248016
Email: karen@misa.org
www.misa.org

received via email from MISA on 08 September 2011