SAHA nominated for prestigious Golden Key award

SAHA’s Freedom of Information Programme (FOIP) has been nominated for the 2008 Golden Key Awards. The Human Rights Foundation of South Africa nominated FOIP in view of FOIP’s continued commitment to effective use of the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA): ensuring PAIA is implemented effectively in both the Public and Private sectors; building the capacity of all aspects of society to access and utilise PAIA; and contributing towards South Africa achieving an open and accountable society.

The Golden Key awards are a joint initiative of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) and South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). These awards aim to recognize public institutions and other organizations as well as individuals that have done exemplary work in promoting openness in the public sector. These are institutions/individuals that have nurtured positive sentiment towards transparency and have set up enabling organizational systems and procedures that promote proper compliance with the provisions of PAIA. The organizations and individuals honored with these awards have shown conscious respect of the national aspiration for an open, transparent and people-centred democracy as embodied in Section 32 and 33 of the Constitution, PAIA and Principles 5 and 6 of Batho Pele.

FOIP has been nominated under Category 3, "Golden Key Award for an organization/a member of the public that has championed the Right to Know through effective use of PAIA".

Right to Know Day is celebrated on 28 September and the Golden Key Awards Ceremony will be held the following day at the Eskom Convention Centre in Midrand.

For further details please contact Charlotte Young.