ICOM Calls for Stronger Attention to Right to Information
The ICOM noted that 745 cases were submitted to the Office during the year.
The Information Commissioner’s Office of Maldives (ICOM) has called for greater attention to the right to access information, stressing that transparency and accountability are essential to strengthening democratic governance in the Maldives.
In a statement issued today to mark International Right to Information Day, the ICOM mentioned that access to information serves as an important means of maintaining transparent, accountable and responsible governance. It added that access to information enables the public to understand the work and decisions of government institutions, strengthening transparency between the State and citizens.
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The right is guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution of the Maldives, while the Right to Information Act (Act No. 1/2014) provides the legal framework for exercising the right. Under the Act, government institutions are required to provide information to the public, while individuals can submit complaints and appeals when they are unable to obtain information.
The ICOM stated that it has worked to make access to information easier for people across the Maldives through awareness and outreach programmes, also highlighting that its online platform, Mahoali, allows members of the public to submit information requests.
According to the statement, requests for information have increased among members of the public, journalists and civil society organisations seeking information about government activities. The ICOM noted that 745 cases were submitted to the Office during the year, while more than 260 cases were concluded.
Despite operating with a relatively small workforce, the Office said it receives an average of at least four cases each day. The statement also highlighted the Maldives’ participation in international forums focused on access to information, including the International Conference of Information Commissioners and the Asian Access to Information Alliance (AAIA).
Moreover, the ICOM remarked that the Maldives has shared its experience and progress in implementing the right to information at international forums. It also emphasised that the Maldives is a founding member of the AAIA.
However, the Office expressed concern that some institutions continue to give insufficient attention to the right to information. It explained that shortcomings in implementing the right can create difficulties in the delivery of services and the work of different institutions.
The ICOM called for arrangements and development programmes to address these challenges and strengthen implementation of the right, additionally stressing the importance of making information held, created and maintained by institutions available to the public. The Office further noted that information may be withheld where permitted under the law.
The statement described access to information as an important right for establishing a transparent and accountable State and preventing corruption. The ICOM said strengthening transparency and accountability in Maldivian society would contribute to a state in which people respect and trust one another, while promoting unity, peace and security.
