The Law on Access to Information was adopted by the National Assembly of Viet Nam in 2016 and came into force since July 1st 2018. The Government has promulgated Decree No. 13/2018/ND-CP dated January 23rd, 2018 providing details and implementation measures for the Law on Access to Information.
This is the first legal document in Viet Nam that provides the right to access to information of citizens, and responsibilities of the State agencies to provide information to citizens. Promoting effective implementation of the Law on Access to Information is key for transparency and accountability. It will also contribute to the anti-corruption effort of Viet Nam.
Photo: CPV
However, UNDP’s Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index - PAPI - showed that only 10-12% of the persons surveyed were aware of the Law on Access to Information.
“It is important for people to know about this Law and how to use it if they want to,” Ms Catherine Phuong, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Viet Nam, emphasized. “For the people, exercising their right to access to information will enable them to better participate in the State’s works and monitor the performance of State agencies”.
To promote an effective implementation of the Law, the Ministry of Justice and UNDP have developed leaflets to raise people’s awareness on the right to access to information. At the workshop, Ministry of Justice introduced the key ideas and contents of the leaflets, representatives from ministries, sectors, the media, academia, mass organizations, associations and localities provided comments and inputs for further improving the leaflets.
“For the law to come into force, ensuring the right to access information of citizens, it is important to disseminate the Law in various ways, including through leaflets, brochures,” said Ms Nguyen Thi Hanh, Deputy Director of the Criminal and Administrative Law Department, Ministry of Justice, noted. “This dissemination is not only limited to the responsibility of State agencies but also the contribution of organizations and individuals”.
The right to access information is part of article 19, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”./.