Judicial officers, journalists, civil society activists, parliamentarians, lawyers and access to information regulatory bodies joined forces with UNESCO to issue a strong call for greater access to free, reliable and independent information.
The call came during a roundtable organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Judicial Institute of Jordan on Tuesday, to mark International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).
The roundtable, “The role of judicial operators in the protection and promotion of the right of access to information” brought leading experts on access to information legislation to highlight the role of judicial operators to ensuring a safe environment for journalists, good governance and more transparency through improving access to public information.
In delivering the opening remarks at the event, the Director General of the Judicial Institute, Judge Nawal Al-Jawhari, said, “This experience with UNESCO is an important milestone in the ongoing task of training of judges in Jordan and this continued cooperation resulted in developing a training toolkit on freedom of expression, which tackles the right to information”.
UNESCO Representative in Jordan, Min Jeong Kim, said that this year’s theme “Building Back Better with Access to Information” for the International Day is based on the recognition that well-crafted access to information legislation and its rigorous implementation promotes sustainable development as well as democracy and human rights.
She stressed the importance of the role of the judiciary in guaranteeing the rights to freedom of expression and access to public information, in accordance with national law and international instruments.
Source: Jordan News Agency