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International Right To Know Day

Join us in celebrating International Right To Know Day - let's raise awareness of the importance of freedom of information and access to knowledge!

Monday

September 2026

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATESeptember 28

OBSERVED INInternationally

CATEGORYAwareness

SUBCATEGORYSocial Justice

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

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!

TIMELINE

International Right To Know Day Timeline

UDHR Adoption

The United Nations adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes Article 19: the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

International Covenant on Civil Rights

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights further cemented the right to freedom of information as an international human right.

Freedom of Information Act

In the US, public access to governmental records is championed by amendments to the Freedom of Information Act.

Origin of Right To Know Day

International Right To Know Day is created by journalist Heather Brooke to advocate for citizens' rights to have access to public information.

Expansion and Recognition

The holiday gains global recognition, with various organizations including the UN and Council of Europe recognizing the importance of freedom of information.

Ongoing Advocacy

Activists, journalists, and organizations around the globe continue to push for unrestricted access to information and transparency in government.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate International Right To Know Day

Learn about your rights

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.

Share your knowledge

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.

WRITE

Write a letter

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.

ORGANIZE

Organize an event

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.

SIGN

Sign a petition

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.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why International Right To Know Day is Important

It encourages freedom of expression

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'.

It advocates for transparency and accountability

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.

It promotes democracy

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.

Related holidays

MON

Sep 2026

Awareness

International Day for Universal Access to Information

On International Day for Universal Access to Information, let's empower individuals with knowledge and promote transparency in our global community.

World Press Freedom Day

Join us to celebrate World Press Freedom Day and stand in solidarity with journalists everywhere - defending freedom of speech and the press!

Freedom of Information Day

An awareness observance on March 16 celebrating public access to government information, government transparency, and the birth of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution.