Seeking Its Enactment Ahead of the International Day for Access to Information
AMAN Calls for Right to Access Information Law to Be Enacted in Cabinet-Approved Form to Preserve National Consensus
Ramallah - The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) sent an official letter to Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa calling for the procedures required to enact the Right to Access Information Law to be completed as soon as possible. The Cabinet referred the draft law to the President last week, paving the way for its enactment before the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28. Such a step would reaffirm the State of Palestine’s commitment to greater transparency and openness.
AMAN stressed that the law should be enacted in the same form approved by the Cabinet following the completion of public consultations. It urged that no substantive amendments be introduced without consultation with the relevant stakeholders, in order to preserve the participatory approach adopted by the government in drafting the law and uphold the consensus reached throughout the various stages of its preparation.
In its letter, AMAN commended the government’s efforts, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission, to prepare the draft law and subject it to public consultations involving civil society organizations, including AMAN. The Coalition described the Cabinet’s decision to refer the draft to the President as an important step toward enacting one of the country’s most significant pieces of legislation supporting reform and good governance.
AMAN emphasized that the Cabinet-approved version was the product of extensive dialogue and consultation between government bodies and civil society organizations. It contains safeguards designed to ensure that the right to access information can be exercised effectively while striking a balance between the public’s right to know and the protection of legitimate interests regulated by law.
The Coalition noted that enacting the Right to Access Information Law is a long-overdue national priority and one of the most important legislative measures for promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability. It would also strengthen the State of Palestine’s commitment to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16, which calls for ensuring public access to information.
AMAN concluded that enacting the law before the International Day for Universal Access to Information would mark the culmination of a legislative process spanning more than 20 years, since the draft law was first introduced in 2005. It would also send a strong national message reflecting the State of Palestine’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
