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Join the celebration of International Right To Know Day on Sept. 28 and show your support for free access to information! This holiday, originally created in 2002 by journalist Heather Brooke, is all about advocating for the right of citizens to have access to public information. This day has become increasingly important as more countries try to limit citizens' rights to know what is going on in their government--and this day serves as a reminder that everyone deserves the right to be informed. So let's spread the word and make sure everyone knows their rights!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1948</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>UDHR Adoption</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United Nations adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes Article 19: the right to freedom of opinion and expression.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1966</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>International Covenant on Civil Rights</div><div class='timeline-text'>The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights further cemented the right to freedom of information as an international human right.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Freedom of Information Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the US, public access to governmental records is championed by amendments to the Freedom of Information Act.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2002</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origin of Right To Know Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>International Right To Know Day is created by journalist Heather Brooke to advocate for citizens' rights to have access to public information.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Expansion and Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>The holiday gains global recognition, with various organizations including the UN and Council of Europe recognizing the importance of freedom of information.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2021</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Ongoing Advocacy</div><div class='timeline-text'>Activists, journalists, and organizations around the globe continue to push for unrestricted access to information and transparency in government.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn about your rights</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take time to learn about the rights you have and the laws that protect them. Educate yourself about the importance of defending those rights, and what you can do to help.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Share your knowledge</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Share your knowledge of your rights with your friends, family, and community. Talk to the people around you about why it’s important to know your rights and how they can defend them.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Write a letter</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Write a letter to your local representatives urging them to protect and promote the right to know. Let them know that this is important to you and why it should be important to them as well.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize an event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Organize an event or a rally in your community to spread awareness about the right to know. Invite speakers, create informative posters and gather people who share the same views.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Sign a petition</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Sign a petition that supports the right to know. Reach out to organizations or websites that are actively working for the same cause and add your name to the list.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It advocates for transparency and accountability</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>International Right To Know Day is an important recognition of the right of citizens to access publicly available information. It celebrates a world where governments are transparent and accountable, allowing citizens to hold their leaders to account and defend their civil rights.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes democracy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By raising awareness of the importance of access to information, International Right To Know Day helps to promote wider civic engagement, enabling democratic participation through informed decision making. Knowledge is the foundation for creating strong democracies that ensure equitable power distribution and respect of human rights.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It encourages freedom of expression</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By increasing access to publicly available information, International Right To Know Day also works to empower individuals by providing them with a platform to freely express themselves and seek out new perspectives. Knowing is half the battle when it comes to understanding the 'what', 'how', and 'why'.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Over 100 countries have formally recognized the right to information</h3><p class='facts-content'>As of 2019, about 126 countries have enacted freedom of information legislation that allows citizens the right to access information held by their government.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The first law on freedom of information was instituted in 1766 in Sweden</h3><p class='facts-content'>Sweden was the first country to recognize and legislate the citizens' right to access government documents, titled "His Majesty's Gracious Ordinance Relating to Freedom of Writing and of the Press".</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>More than half of the world's population still lacks access to information legislation</h3><p class='facts-content'>Even though over 100 countries have instituted laws protecting the right to know, many countries still lack legislation that allows public access to government-held information, affecting over half the world's population.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights defends the right to information</h3><p class='facts-content'>While it doesn't directly name it, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is commonly interpreted to englobe the right to information, stating that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information of all kinds.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>International Right To Know Day has an accompanying weeklong campaign</h3><p class='facts-content'>The day is usually bracketed by a week of activities dedicated to promoting freedom of information. These can range from conferences and workshops to award ceremonies honoring those who have made significant contributions in the field.</p></div></div>
International Right To Know Day is celebrated on September 28 every year. In 2024 International Right To Know Day will occur on a Saturday.
2023
Sep 28
Thursday
2024
Sep 28
Saturday
2025
Sep 28
Sunday
2026
Sep 28
Monday
2027
Sep 28
Tuesday
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