Indicator 16.10.2 Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

Indicator 16.10.2: Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information

2021

None

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS)

Senior Manager, Social Statistics

Social Statistics

Collect, compile, analyze and disseminate statistics on governance, peace and security, gender, education and health

+254 735004401,+254 202911001,+254 202911000

P.O. Box 30266 – 00100 Nairobi

dpss@knbs.or.ke

Definition

Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory, and policy guarantees for public access to information. The purpose of this indicator is to report the total number of countries that adopted legal guarantees on ATI, as well as the main tendencies in the implementation of these guarantees, which are presented in global aggregates.

0-No, Has not adopted, 1-Yes, Has adopted

None

Description: Data on the number of countries that adopted the guarantees will be obtained through the responses from countries to the Survey on Public Access to Information (SDG Indicator 16.10.2), Data on the implementation at national level, which will contribute to UNESCO’s global reporting, will be obtained through the responses from countries and their territories to the same survey.

In collecting data at national level, UNESCO invites countries to participate in UNESCO Survey on Public Access to Information (SDG Indicator 16.10.2). The survey will include an instruction manual. Countries that answer the overarching questions that will be scored accordingly. In addition, where applicable, supplementary data will be collected through follow-up questions, which will not be scored and will be used to contextualize UNESCO’s analysis.

UNESCO anticipates the collection of data on an annual basis.

UNESCO plans to release data for indicator 16.10.2 in Q1 of each year as part of its reporting to the UN Secretary-General Progress Report towards the SDGs.

Name: Countries Description: Each country completes the survey in consultation with relevant line departments/ ministries/ agencies/ oversight bodies for access to information (e.g. Information Commissions, Data Protection or Privacy Commission, Ombudsman, National Human Rights Institutions), and National Statistical Offices

UNESCO

UNESCO is the UN specialized agency building peace in the minds of people through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. In the field of communication and information, UNESCO defends and promotes freedom of expression, media independence and pluralism, and the building of inclusive knowledge societies underpinned by universal access to information and the innovative use of digital technologies. Since 2017, UNESCO has been designated as the custodian agency for indicator 16.10.2. In this context, UNESCO, via its International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), has been mandated by its Member States to monitor and report progress on this indicator worldwide.

To report on the number of countries that adopted the guarantees, data collected through the survey instrument are triangulated by desk research. The data, which include years of adoption of such guarantees, are monitored and updated annually to reflect changes, such as:

• whether a country just passed a guarantee for Access to Information;

• whether a country amended its existing guarantee(s) for Access to Information.

In parallel, to link the data on adoption above with the implementation aspect, and to measure the component of implementation at the national level, UNESCO collects data directly from countries and their territories via the Survey on Public Access to Information (SDG Indicator 16.10.2).

This indicator does not assess the totality of the “public access to information” component of the full Target of 16.10. Nevertheless, it focuses on a key determinant of the wider information environment.

Computed by UNSECO as indicated in the Global SDG Metadata indicator 16.10.2.

Data will be validated with countries during the processing stage to ensure its quality and accuracy.

Once countries receive an invitation to participate in the survey, they will have access to a manual that will guide the user. The user/person in charge must gather the responses using a well-coordinated process involving all the relevant staff that oversee the work within the various key issues contained within the survey. During the data collection period, UNESCO will mobilize a team to support countries in filling out the survey and respond to their queries in a quality and timely manner.

UNESCO puts in place a dedicated team for the management of the survey. The team provides a help desk service and online workshops to ensure relationship management with countries. The team is also responsible for quality control which includes data cleaning, processing, as well as verification.

UNESCO ensures quality by validating data collected via its survey with countries in the case where clarification is needed on the responses. UNESCO also proposes online workshops with countries in three languages (English, French, and Spanish) to assist them in completing the survey, avoiding errors in respondent comprehension and interpretation, as well as ensuring the quality of data that will be collected.

Quality assessment will be done by evaluating data quality, comparability, and harmonization against the principles of Access to Information set forth earlier in this document. As part of the evaluation mechanism, UNESCO will also collect feedback directly from countries and experts, to improve the data collection process and the survey tool, as necessary.

Data availability:

National data on adoption and implementation of legal guarantees on Access to Information should be available following the participation of States in UNESCO’s survey. Other data are available from various monitoring and research initiatives around the world which can be used for triangulation and as supplementary sources.

Time series:

Not Applicable

Disaggregation:

None

Sources of discrepancies: Not applicable because the indicator is only calculated from data submitted by Member States to UNESCO in response to the Survey on Public Access to Information (SDG Indicator 16.10.2).

URL: https://en.unesco.org/themes/monitoring-and-reporting-access-information References: UNESCO 2020 Report on SDG Indicator 16.10.2 (Public Access to Information): • From promise to practice: access to information for sustainable development (publication version): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375022 • First global report on the implementation of access to Information laws (version submitted to the 32nd Session the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000374637.locale=env Powering sustainable development with access to information: highlights from the 2019 UNESCO monitoring and reporting of SDG indicator 16.10.2: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000369160?posInSet=2&queryId=d806d9b7-15e1-4d9495a2-6dfd9967e6c6 Access to information: a new promise for sustainable development: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000371485 The Commonwealth’s Model Freedom of Information Bill: https://thecommonwealth.org/sites/default/files/key_reform_pdfs/P15370_12_ROL_Model_Freedom_I nformation.pdf Organization of American States (OAS)’s Model Law on Access to Information: https://www.oas.org/dil/AG-RES_2607-2010_eng.pdf African Union’s Model Law on Access to Information: https://archives.au.int/handle/123456789/2062

United Nations Convention against Corruption: https://www.unodc.org/documents/brussels/UN_Convention_Against_Corruption.pdf Resolution of the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council 31/32: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/31/32 2013 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression: https://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/68/362