Promoting Gender Equity in the Right of Access to Information

The importance of access to information (ATI) as an internationally

 recognized human right has since been acknowledged. However, the realization of this right for women remains a challenge. While the value of information is clear, particularly for women seeking to promote and protect their rights and advance their economic empowerment, the existing legal, structural, and cultural obstacles also serve as impediments. Stakeholders must use the international mechanisms to engage the issues vigorously, and also national laws and policies must be developed and reviewed through a gendered lens to support women in overcoming the challenges faced in exercising their right to information,

This brief comes as part of UNESCO’s work as the custodian agency for SDG Indicator 16.10.2 on Public Access to Information. With a specific focus on gender parity, the brief look into international and national mechanisms to help overcome the obstacles that women face in exercising their right to information. Some of the recommendations include: To promote gender-sensitive Right to Information (RTI) laws; ensuring ATI practices are gender-sensitive; developing a comprehensive strategy, plan of action and accompanying dedicated budget to ensure that RTI is equitable, including engaging with the ministries responsible for women’s rights/gender/family/youth, other ministerial gender units and Human Rights bodies/ Ombudspersons and encouraging Open Government Partnership Commitments to include national and sub-national actions to advance an equitable right of access to information for all women.