THE HAGUE. On 28 September 2011 conferences and debates were held all over the world to celebrate the Right To Know Day (RTK Day). The focus of the events is the importance of the right to information.

Internationally, RTK Day began on 28 September 2002 in Sofia, Bulgaria at an international meeting of access to information advocates who proposed that a day be dedicated to the promotion of freedom of information worldwide. The goal of RTK Day is to raise global awareness of individuals’ right to access government information and to promote access to information as a fundamental human right.

In the Netherlands the First Right to Know Day was organised in 2010 by a research journalist Brenno de Winter. For the 2011 edition De Winter cooperated with the Department of Administrative Law and Public Administration of the University of Groningen. The Dutch RTK Day was supported by the Netherland’s Association of Journalists (NVJ), the Persvrijheidsfonds (Fund for freedom of the media), the Belgian-Dutch Association of Research Journalists (VVOJ), Stichting Vrijschrift and Stichting ‘Dat Zou Jij Wel Willen Weten’.

During the Dutch Right to Know Day - yesterday in Groningen - scientists, journalists and users of the law concerning the access to public administration (Wet openbaarheid van bestuur, Wob). The National Ombudsman, the State Attorney and various politicians made their appearance. There was ample time for plenary discussions to recognize the sticking points and best practices from the field. This will not only lead to more knowledge, but also to conclusions with added value for the debate on the possible amendment of the law concerning the access to public administration. Today the Parliamentary Commission on Internal Affairs is holding a hearing on this law with some of the speakers from the RTK Day.

SOURCES

Right to Know Day The Netherlands.

Agenda of the Hearing on 29 September.

On the history of the RTK Day.

Background information on the International RTK Day.