RIGHT TO KNOW DAY

Right to know Day began on September 28, 2002, in Sofia, Bulgaria at an international meeting of access to information advocates who recommended that a day be dedicated to the promotion of freedom of information worldwide. It is now commemorated globally in every September 28 of the year.

For the first time Media Council of Tanzania celebrated Right to Know Day on September 28, 2011. The commemoration was preceded by Radio and TV talk shows followed with a symposium that gathered media stakeholders and practitioners. The first time commemoration facilitated by MCT emphasized access to information is a right of everyone.

In 2012, Media Council of Tanzania and other Coalition members organized tenth anniversary of the Right to Know Day which from September 24- 28, 2012. The anniversary involved Coalition Members, Think Tank Members, journalists, editors, TGNP Members, Board Members, students, public and other participants from different institutions. The event was geared to promote the fundamental right of the citizens to access information from different institutions in the country particularly governmental.

The anniversary covered discussion on background of Right to Know Day, presentation of the Importance of Access To Information Law and its Relevance in Today’s Setting, rationale of the research, launching of the report on Government Secrecy in An Information Age, presentation of the Golden Key and Padlock Awards, and presentation of the Importance of Press Freedom versus The Right of People to Know. Prior to the tenth commemoration of the Right to Know Day, there were a total of five special talk shows to emphasize on importance of the right of the citizens to access information. Four talk shows were on television stations and one on radio.