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Keywords: Sustainable development goals (1 hits), SDG (0 hits),

31 October 2011

Submission from 77 civil society organisations on the Importance of Access to Information and a Free Media to Sustainable Development

We, the undersigned 77 civil society organisations representing freedom of expression, transparency, journalists, and the media interests around the world, are providing this submission on issues we strongly believe need to be included in the Outcome Document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

The Outcome Document will represent an important milestone in the global efforts to realise sustainable development. We urge the UNCSD and member states to put free media, transparency and the free flow of information as central pillars in their efforts to promote sustainable development and the protection of the environment at the upcoming Rio+20 Summit in June 2012. We believe that transparency and the free flow of information, including the right of all to seek, receive and impart information and ideas related to development and the environment, are fundamental to ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection.

In particular, we recommend that the Outcome Document includes a general principle recognising that a free media and an independent civil society, transparency and the free flow of information are central pillars in global efforts to promote sustainable development and the protection of the environment.

The Outcome Document should also include:

1. An agreement for the creation of a new international treaty on access to environmental information, public participation and access to justice, based on Principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention).

2. Clear and specific targets and deadlines for the adoption and implementation by member states of national legislation on access to information, public participation and access to justice, based on the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Bali Guidelines.

3. Clear and specific targets and deadlines for member states to adopt necessary laws and policies to protect freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, freedom of association and freedom of assembly as well as to repeal those legal provisions that hamper the realisation of these rights, which are fundamental to sustainable development.

4. Clear and specific targets towards the adoption and implementation by all UN agencies, organisations, commissions, programmes, and other UN bodies, of access to information and public participation policies, including effective mechanisms to ensure appeal and compliance.

We fully support the adoption of Sustainable development goals (SDGs) which will integrate the above recommendations.

We thank you for this opportunity and offer our further assistance and commitment to the success of the Rio+20 process and conference and the full achievement of sustainable development.

Yours sincerely,

IFEX MEMBERS:

ARTICLE 19

Association for Civil Rights (ADC), Argentina

Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM)

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Serbia

Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR)

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)

Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)

Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Philippines

Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP), Liberia

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Malaysia

Freedom Forum, Nepal

Globe International, Mongolia Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda

Initiative for Freedom of Expression (Antenna-Tr), Turkey

Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information (ISAI), Indonesia

Institute of Mass Information (IMI), Ukraine

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS), Peru

International Press Institute (IPI), Austria

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Australia

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA)

Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria

Media Watch , Bangladesh

Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), American Samoa

Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), Fiji

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

PEN Canada

Privacy International

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Senegal

World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

NON-IFEX MEMBERS:

Access Info Europe, Spain

Access Initiative, USA

Access to Information Programme, Bulgaria

Advocacy Academy, Romania

Africa Freedom of Information Centre, Uganda

African Network of Constitutional Lawyers, ATI Committee

Alianza Regional por la Libre Expresión e Información

African Women's Development and Communication Network, Kenya

Arab Freedom of Information Network

Association for Progressive Communications, South Africa

Australian Privacy Foundation

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication

Bytes for All, Pakistan

Center for Independent Journalism, Romania

Centre for Law and Democracy, Canada

Centre for Media Freedom Mena region

Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan

Citizens' Campaign for Right to Information, Nepal

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, India

Electronic Privacy Information Center, USA

Fundación Ciudadano Inteligente, Chile

Fundar: Centro de Analisis e Investigación, Mexico

Green Alternative, Georgia

Grupo FARO, Ecuador

HELIO International, France

Humanistische Union e.V./German Civil Liberties Union, Germany

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungary

Indonesian Center for Environmental Law, Indonesia

Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Georgia

Institute for Information Freedom Development, Russia

Instituto de Derecho y Economía Ambiental, Paraguay

International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific office

Jamaicans For Justice, Jamaica

K-Monitor Watchdog for Public Funds, Hungary

Moroccan Right to Information Network

National Security Archive, USA

Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector-MANS, Montenegro

Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe (n-ost), Germany

Panos London, UK

PRO ACCESO, Chile

PRO MEDIA, Macedonia

Proetica Peru

PROVIDUS, Latvia

Publish What You Fund, UK

SpeedTrust, Bangladesh

For more information:

ARTICLE 19

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