Using the RTI Regime as a Catalyst for Development

Abstract

President Barack Obama stated the following in issuing a memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act on his first day in Office in 2009. “The presumption of disclosure also means agencies should take affirmative steps to make information public. All agencies should use modern technology to inform citizens about what is known and done by their government. Disclosure should be timely. ” The above preamble covers the parameters of a Right to Information (RTI) regime. Having an RTI regime is evidence of democracy deepening in a country. The RTI regime can play a multifaceted role in moving a country forward by strengthening accountability and transparency in all aspects of governance. This article focuses on the considerable scope that exists for using the RTI regime as a catalyst for achieving development goals. The RTI is considered an important element of the freedom of expression. The availability of adequate information enables a person to form an informed opinion. Public policies and procedures are connected to people’s life from the moment of registering the birth to obtaining the death certificate. The RTI regime can bridge the gap between public policies and civil society engagement. Even though democracy is not a panacea for poverty alleviation and human development, it creates a conducive environment for achieving those goals. It is accepted that democracy creates opportunities and enhances capabilities of the poor and underprivileged. The RTI as a key element of democracy can therefore be used to harness development. Sweden is the first country to enact an RTI law in 1766 and subsequently so far 119 countries have enacted this law promoting participatory democracy. Sri Lanka’s Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 was ranked 3rd in the Global Right to Information Rating. Studies have suggested that implementation and enforcement could be further strengthened in order to use the RTI regime for advancing the development agenda of the country. Strengthening collaboration between civil society and public authorities and having a robust technological framework in place would improve the effectiveness of the RTI regime.