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Information is power. Information
is also fundamental to make informed decisions. Where it’s not freely
accessible, corruption can thrive and basic rights can be denied. People
can hide corrupt acts behind a veil of secrecy.
On this International
Right to Know Day we want to highlight how ensuring access to — and
disclosure of — information can empower people and institutions to
prevent and fight corruption.
Access to information is the
right by law — often through freedom of information laws — to request key
facts and data from the government. When that right to know is denied, we
can’t hold decision makers or institutions to account for their actions,
nor can we make informed choices when we vote.
But it’s a two-way process. Under
law or in good faith, public officials, companies and organisations are
required to proactively disclose information about what they do. We must
use this information to make full use of our rights.
Nearly 120 countries have right
to information (RTI) laws, however implementation is often patchy and
many citizens don’t know about these laws or how to use them to their
advantage. Even strong laws can be ineffective if the officials providing
information are undertrained, too few or supporting a culture of secrecy.
This is why we urge you to find
out about the laws in your country and exercise your right to
information. If you want better access to information in your country,
call on your government online, in person and through your
local
Transparency International chapter. Individuals can make changes with
information, but first they must persuade governments to give access to
information.
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Events
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Exciting news! Hip-hop icon and activist yasiin bey
(formerly known as Mos
Def) will headline Fair
Play: Live 2018, the international music event bringing
together musicians from around the world to perform in support of social
justice. Where? VEGA,
Copenhagen, Denmark. When? 23 October 2018.
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The world’s largest independent forum for fighting
corruption will bring together more than 1500 participants from all over
the world from 22-24
October in Copenhagen, Denmark - register
now or get your press
accreditation.
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We're proud to present the catalogue of Films for
Transparency, a film festival focussing on anti-corruption that will take
place from
20-25 October in Copenhagen, alongside the 18th IACC.
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News from
Transparency International
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The right to information is vital for preventing
corruption. To mark International Right to Know Day, we are launching a
report on eleven Asia Pacific countries and calling on their governments
to make right to information a priority.
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An ethical cloud has been cast over the blue skies and
white sand beaches of the Maldives - the idyllic tropical holiday
destination is ensnared in a scandal in which at least US$79 million have
been embezzled. It implicates local businessmen, international hotel
operators, and even leads all the way to outgoing President Abdulla
Yameen.
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New on Voices for
Transparency
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117 countries have right to information laws in place.
Still, a culture of secrecy prevails the public sector in many of these
countries. Find out how citizens and civil society in Pakistan and the
Maldives use the right to information to hold governments accountable.
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This week marks the third anniversary of the Sustainable
Development Goals. How can those implementing them make sure that
corruption is not standing in their way? Here are seven things that civil
society organisations can do.
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What happens when you take a group of young people and
give them a taste of citizen power? Short answer: a lot.
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Corruption in
the news
Latest stories
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