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AGENDA 2030: HOW INFORMED VOICE ENSURES WE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND
Hi John,
IN 2015, WORLD LEADERS PLEDGED [4] TO COMBAT POVERTY AND STRIVE FOR PEACE
AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, EVERYWHERE, BY 2030 (‘AGENDA 2030’).
We are already halfway to 2030 – and we still have a long way to go.
Those who are poor have no voice. And having no voice keeps them stuck in
poverty. Because it is only when people raise their voices together [5]
that they can demand the change they need.
ONLY FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION – THAT IS, INFORMED VOICE – CAN ACHIEVE THE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) SET OUT IN AGENDA 2030.
LEARN MORE [3]
WHY IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT?
Freedom of expression, which includes both the right to speak and the right
to information (RTI), is critical to sustainable development because:
* It enables us to find out WHAT’S GOING ON – and WHAT’S GOING WRONG
– inside our governments and public institutions.
* It equips us with the knowledge we need to HOLD OUR LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE
for their obligations to us, like providing good healthcare, quality
education, and clean water.
* And it empowers us to SPEAK OUT AND DEMAND BETTER – for ourselves, our
families, our communities, and our planet.
In other words, freedom of expression ensures that all people, everywhere,
are INFORMED; it enables DIALOGUE; it helps the public to recognise TRUTH;
and it contributes to collective KNOWLEDGE.
THIS WEEK, UN LEADERS CAN MAKE SURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
They will be meeting at a crucial summit to discuss next steps in achieving
Agenda 2030.
We want them to:
> 1. Improve the quality of RTI laws worldwide;
>
> 2. Explicitly recognise, in the Summit Declaration, that freedom of
> expression is critical to achieving all the SDGs; and
>
> 3. Provide more effective and transparent monitoring of RTI laws and the
> safety of journalists, human rights defenders, and whistleblowers.
Only freedom of expression can empower everyone, everywhere, to speak up
and demand all our other rights – like healthcare, education, and climate
action – which our governments have pledged to deliver by 2030.
Read our briefing
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3 TIMES EXPRESSION HAS SUPERCHARGED DEVELOPMENT
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THAILAND: LAND REDISTRIBUTED FROM PALM-OIL COMPANIES TO FARMERS
‘FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BENEFIT FROM [OUR] EFFORTS. AT LEAST THE
GOVERNMENT HAS TO TAKE BACK LAND FROM THE INVESTORS AND GIVE IT TO POOR
PEOPLE. THAT IS ONE STEP TOWARD DEVELOPMENT.’
– Suraphon Songruk, Southern Peasants’ Federation of Thailand
Read the story
[6]
UGANDA: LOCAL RESIDENT AND JOURNALIST JOIN FORCES TO TURN THE TAPS BACK ON
Residents of Kabale, Uganda, were experiencing shortages in their water
supply. In November 2015, after receiving training on the RTI, one resident
sought an explanation.
Read the story
[6]
SPAIN: JOURNALIST EXPOSES FISHERIES’ MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
‘IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONVEY TO OTHER JOURNALISTS HERE IN SPAIN THE
POWER OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION IF I HAD NOT HAD MY OWN EXPERIENCE OF
GETTING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND THEN HAVING MY WORK FEATURED IN A TOP
NEWSPAPER.’
– Mar Cabra, Spanish journalist
Read the story
ONLY FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CAN EMPOWER EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, TO SPEAK UP
AND DEMAND ALL OUR OTHER RIGHTS – LIKE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND CLIMATE
ACTION – WHICH OUR GOVERNMENTS HAVE PLEDGED TO DELIVER BY 2030.
AT THE SDG SUMMIT TODAY AND TOMORROW, UN LEADERS MUST MAKE SURE NO ONE IS
LEFT BEHIND.
LEARN MORE
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