International Right to Know Day in Bulgaria

The right of access to information is an important human right, necessary for the enjoyment of other human rights.

The right to information is essential for transparent and accountable government. The right of access to information makes possible the public involvement in formulating social policies and in the decision-making processes of governance

The right to information can only be effectively exercised and implemented on the basis of laws, regulating this right in accordance with international standards

Promoting the Right to Know Day

The Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria is an important raising awareness campaign tool and a stimulus for developing good access to information practices by public bodies. The Right to Know Day campaign in Bulgaria is of national scale. Access to Information Programme (AIP) coordinators in the country, who are all journalists, are assisting the media campaign preceding and accompanying the Right to Know Day by publishing and broadcasting in local media.

AIP has prepared a Right to Know Day poster, leaflets, documentaries, and other promotion materials to enhance the impact of the campaign.
As one of the founders and an active member of the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) which was born on 28 September 2002 in Sofia, Bulgaria, AIP also takes part in the global FOI initiatives on the occasion of the Right to Know Day.

AIP Opened the 2011 Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony with the Song “Breathe”

The 9th Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria opened with the song “Breathe.” The music and the arrangement are made by the musician and composer Michail Yossifov. The text is written by Mariy Rossen. The song is performed by Andronia Popova – Roni and Michail Yossifov.

Access to Information Programme organizes and holds the annual Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria since 2003. This year we have received 59 nominations in the six categories.

The 2011 Right to Know Day Ceremony was held on 28 September at the Pressclub of the Bulgarian News Agency.

28 September - 9th International Right to Know Day - Join the Global Celebration of the Right to Know
The video emphasizes why the Right to Know Day is so important for FOI advocates around the world.

In 2011, the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) prepared а special poster to be used by FOI advocates to promote 28 September - The Right to Know Day.

Seven video clips (in Bulgarian) show the 2010 Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony held by Access to Information Programme on 28 September at the Press Club of the National News Agency.

Right to Know Day - 28.09.2009 (in Bulgarian) is a twenty-minute reportage with the most interesting moments from the Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony organized and held by AIP in Bulgaria. Short interviews with the awardees are included.

In 2009, Access to Information Programme created the thirty-minute documentary Right to Know Day. The movie was produced by a team of ProMedia - Broadcasting Training Center Foundation within the framework of the project Local Media and Freedom of Information in Bulgaria implemented by The Management&Media Academy/Free Voice and AIP with the financial support of the MATRA Programme of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The movie presents the history of the Right to Know Day ceremonies in Bulgaria and the positive effects from the advocacy for the right of access to information. The movie is in Bulgarian but is accessible with subtitles in English.

In 2006, a special FOIAnet leaflet was prepared to popularize the Right to Know Day.

AIP translated the leaflet in Bulgarian and published it. The Bulgarian leaflet was updated several times. Hundreds of copies were disseminated in Bulgaria and abroad.

Access to Information Programme has made a special Right to Know Day Poster for the 2004 Right to Know Day. The poster is available for download here.