World Day for Access to Public Information: In Venezuela it is a constitutional right

Published at: 28/09/2024 08:24 AM

On September 28, 2002, non-governmental organizations and groups organized at an international level brought to the table the obstacles that the public administrations of their respective countries imposed on them to access public information, and agreed to identify coordinated pressure and awareness strategies to ensure that this right is recognized and strengthened in the world, especially where there are insufficient guarantees.

22 years after this debate held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, the World Day for Access to Public Information is celebrated, also known as the World Day of the Right to Know. This initiative is based on the fact that everyone has the right to request and receive information, administered or held by public institutions.

In Venezuela, this right is protected by the National Constitution, which states in its article 28:

“Every person has the right to access information and data that about themselves or their assets are in official or private records, with the exceptions established by law, as well as to know their use and their purpose, and to request before the competent court the updating, rectification or destruction of those records, if they are erroneous or illegitimately affect their rights”.

He also adds that anyone “will be able to access documents of any nature that contain information whose knowledge is of interest to communities or groups of people. The secrecy of sources of journalistic information and other professions as determined by law is protected.” Under this constitutional letter, the Infogobierno Act promotes the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Public Power and Popular Power, in order to guarantee people's access to public information, making it as easy as possible to monitor their actions as an essential requirement of a democratic and social State of law and justice.

The National Government maintains its commitment to guarantee transparent and efficient public management at the service of the people, with the application of new ICTs in all areas of public competence, the development of systems for the management of administrative procedures and the creation of web applications, among other technological instruments, that break with bureaucratic processes, promote the transparency of institutions and promote citizen participation in decision-making.

Mazo News Team