International Day for Universal Access to Information

What Is the International Day for Universal Access to Information?

September 28th is the "International Day for Universal Access to Information," a United Nations observance dedicated to a world where everyone — regardless of nationality, age, gender, or disability — can access information on an equal footing.

Treating "the Right to Know" as a Shared Global Value

This international day grew out of the idea that fair access to information is a cornerstone of democratic, just societies.

• Proposed: First proposed by UNESCO in 2015
• Adopted: Officially adopted as an international day by the UN General Assembly in 2019
• Purpose: To guarantee everyone's right to access information — the right to know and freedom of expression — regardless of nationality, age, gender, or disability
• Related right: Closely tied to the "freedom of expression" enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Invisible Inequality Created by Information Gaps

Even in today's internet-connected world, the information available to people varies enormously depending on where they live and their circumstances. Whether someone can access accurate information directly affects their education, health, and quality of life.

Ways to Mark the Day

• Learn about the current state of the global digital divide
• Think about how to tell reliable information sources from unreliable ones
• Reconsider the role that libraries and public information infrastructure play in society
• Talk with people close to you about why access to information matters

An Equal "Right to Know" for Everyone

The International Day for Universal Access to Information symbolizes the global effort to close information gaps. September 28th is a day to notice that the information we take for granted is not, in fact, equally available to all.