Windhoek
The Access to Information in Namibia (ACTION) coalition has commended government for initiating the process of drafting both the Access to Information (ATI) law and updating of its information policy.
The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology recently released for consultation and discussion a draft ATI working document and a draft of the revised National Information Policy.
“Access to information is an issue which has long featured on the legislative and policy-making agenda, but which has not been brought to a conclusive head up until present,” ACTION stated yesterday.
The coalition said it their sincere hope that the current attempt by government to institute a new ATI regime and create a revised information policy environment would lead to the establishment of a law and policy landscape that exemplifies the spirit of respect for human rights and freedoms, as enshrined in the Constitution of Namibia.
“Namibia would live up to and honour its obligation under such auspicious international, continental and regional instruments, as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport,” read the statement.
It went on to say it will draw attention to the fact that ATI has been positioned as a critical ingredient in the attainment of the objectives of both the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Namibian government Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP).
Furthermore, the coalition also applauded government for inviting and including civil society and the media from the earliest stages of the process of developing and drafting both the ATI Bill and the new information policy.
The coalition said it would certainly play its part and avail all its expertise to the government legal drafters to ensure that Namibia’s eventual ATI law and policy landscape will be one to be admired and emulated, not just on the African continent, but worldwide.
ACTION is an umbrella organisation under which a range of activist and civil society and media organisation are gathered in the furtherance of the cause of access to information and freedom of expression.
The coalition has been in existence since 2012 and has over the years consistently engaged both the Namibian government and its development partners on the need for ATI.