Workshop on the Right to Information Act

The YP Foundation (TYPF) in New Delhi is a youth led and run non-profit in India that develops young people’s leadership skills to take action on issues that young people are passionate about. Founded in 2002, the organization supports young people between the ages of 13 and 28 to conceptualize and implement community based projects that challenge stereotypes, forge sustainable partnerships and promote the uninhibited expression of young people.

TYPF is committed to advancing young people’s human rights by building leadership and strengthening youth led initiatives and movements as well as enabling young people’s ability to influence and create policies that further their rights. In the last 7 years, we have worked with 5,000 young people to set up over 200 projects in India. Our work reaches communities through performing and visual arts, literary and research, peer education, policy and advocacy, awareness and skill building projects.

Our work has received support and recognition from many stakeholders. These include The Global Fund for Children, The Ford Foundation, The International Women’s Health Coalition, Students for the Promotion of International Law, UNICEF, UNDP, UNAIDS, The Government of Nagaland, India, The American Embassy, The Ashoka Foundation, IPPF and The Packard Foundation among others.

The YP Foundation has been recognized at multiple forums. We are the recipients of The Student Citizen Karamveer Puruskaar – the National Award for Social Justice and Action (2007), The Seen and Heard International Award – British Telecom and the UK Youth Parliament (2008), Pepsi MTV Youth Icon of India Nominee 2008, The Change Looms Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2008) – The Ashoka Foundation and the Young Achievers Award (2009) from the President of Nepal.

The Right to Information Branch
The Right to Information Branch at The YP Foundation aims to develop young people’s engagement with legislative process, increased awareness on laws and policies in India and their application to our daily lives. In the last 5 years, the branch has worked on building the spirit of active citizenship amongst young people by exploring issues such as corruption, our right to information, the media and its role, understanding the political system and our most recent initiative – the ‘What Does Your Vote Want?’ campaign.

’What Does Your Vote Want’ Campaign
With majority of India’s population between the ages of 18 and 25, it is important that young people have a say in the way their country is run. Yet many eligible young voters do not exercise their right to vote either due to disenchantment with the political process or because they do not know how to exercise this right.
The RTI Branch believes that voting patterns are a reflection of the views, demands and needs of citizens and that voting is one of the most powerful ways of demanding good governance. It also recognizes that young people need to be made aware of the importance of their vote and how it can be used to make a difference.
In 2009, the Branch primarily focused on a campaign called ‘What Does Your Vote Want?’ which aimed at providing young people with accurate and relevant information on the system of voting and clarifying the doubts that exist in the minds of young voters. The project successfully helped register more than 4,000 people in Delhi and Raipur, and many more online through our blog.

However, we feel that the role of an active citizen does not end with the casting of a ballot, and young voters need a space to continue to engage with their elected representatives and with their local governance bodies. Thus, after the Elections in 2009 the project launched a platform for young people to explore governance accountability and for direct dialogue between the youth and the public sector to discuss their key issues and concerns and clarify their questions regarding governance mechanisms and accountability.

The first open forum in this series was held at our 7th Anniversary Celebrations on the 26th July, 2009 in collaboration with the India Habitat Centre and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. We explored the role of the RTI Act in governance accountability, through an interactive discussion entitled "The Right to Information = the Right to Accountability? Exploring the RTI Act". We were joined by eminent personalities such as Mr. Wajahat Habibullah (Chief Information Commissioner), Mr. Salman Khurshid (Member of Parliament), Mr. Shekhar Singh (NCPRI), Ms. Maja Daruwala (CHRI) and representatives from other organizations like Mr. Venkatesh Nayak (CHRI), Mr. Manish Sisodia (Kabir), Mr. Aditya Prasad (JOSH) , Commodore Lokesh Batra, Ms. Jayshree Satpute (Human Rights Law Network), Mr. Girish Talwar (associated with The Youth for Equality Movement in Maharashtra).
The Right to Information Act was passed in 2005 and grants citizens the right to ask for and be provided with information about the work of government-run and supported bodies. The essence of the Act was to provide citizens with a tool to combat corruption and ensure transparency in matters of governance.
However, a recent study by Mr. Shekhar Singh, National Campaign for People's Right to Information, revealed that only 33% of the urban population is aware of the RTI Act out of which only 2% are students.

Through this discussion, we aimed at generating awareness around how young people can utilize the act, as well as how it can be made more accessible to young people through incorporating the inputs of key stakeholders, experts, and the youth, aiming to promote the concept of active citizenship and accountability amongst young people and the government and combating corruption in public authorities.
Taking past initiatives forward, we are looking to conduct 6 workshops in colleges in the NCR Region to further raise awareness about The Right to Information Act and utilize it to affect issues that concern young people through innovative mediums like facilitative group discussions involving different activities like ‘myths and realities’ and mock-filing of applications.

For more information on the RTI Act, you can log on to the following websites-
http://righttoinformation.gov.in/ http://www.righttoinformation.org/
www.rightto.info http://www.rtiindia.org/
http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org http://www.righttoinformation.info/

Contact Us
Ila Reddy
Coordinator
The Right to Information Branch
The YP Foundation
Developing Potential In Young People
E: yp.rti.programme@gmail.com

MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
MESSAGE ON INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
9 December 2009

The theme of this year’s observance of the International Anti-Corruption Day -- “don’t let corruption kill development” – highlights one of the biggest impediments to the world’s efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals.

When public money is stolen for private gain, it means fewer resources to build schools, hospitals, roads and water treatment facilities. When foreign aid is diverted into private bank accounts, major infrastructure projects come to a halt. Corruption enables fake or substandard medicines to be dumped on the market, and hazardous waste to be dumped in landfill sites and in oceans. The vulnerable suffer first and worst.

But corruption is not some vast impersonal force. It is the result of personal decisions, most often motivated by greed.

Development is not the only casualty. Corruption steals elections. It undermines the rule of law. And it can jeopardize security. As we have seen over the last year, it can also have a serious impact on the international financial system.

Fortunately, there is a way to fight back. The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the world’s strongest legal instrument to build integrity and fight corruption. A new mechanism decided on at the recent Conference of States Parties in Doha means that, from now on, states will be judged by the actions they take to fight corruption, not just the promises they make.

The private sector should not lag behind governments. Businesses must also prevent corruption within their ranks, and keep bribery out of tendering and procurement processes. I urge the private sector to adopt anti-corruption measures in line with the UN Convention. Companies -- particularly those that subscribe to the 10th principle of the Global Compact, to work against corruption -- should pledge not to cheat and should open themselves up to peer review to ensure that everyone is playing by the same rules.

We all have a part to play. On International Corruption Day 2009, I urge all people to join the UN anti-corruption campaign at www.yournocounts.org. And I encourage everyone to make a pledge: never to offer or accept a bribe. Live by that motto, and the world will be a more honest place – and we will increase the chances of reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

What Can You Do?

Your NO to corruption counts!

People often think that corruption is "just a way of life", but every society, sector and individual would benefit from saying "NO" to this crime.

Here are some examples of how you can say "NO" to corruption. Follow this link for a complete Call to Action Matrix.

• Ratify and enact the UN Convention against Corruption.
  Countries that successfully attack corruption are far more legitimate in the eyes of their citizens, creating stability and trust.
• Know what Convention requires of your government and its officials.
  Rooting out corruption allows social and economic development.
• Educate the public about the government's responsibility to be corruption-free.
  Equal and fair justice for all is a crucial element for a country's stability and growth. It also helps to effectively fight crime.
• Raise awareness with the public, media and government about the costs of corruption for key services such as health and education.
  All of society benefits from functioning basic services.
• Engage the youth of your country about what ethical behavior is, what corruption is and how to fight it, and to demand their right to education.
  Ensuring that future generations of citizens are brought up to expect corruption-free countries is one of the best tools to ensure a brighter future.
• Report incidents of corruption.
  Create an environment where the rule of law prevails.
• Refuse to participate in any activities that are not legal and transparent.
  Increases both domestic and foreign investment. Everyone is more willing to invest in countries when they see that funds are not being siphoned off into the pockets of corrupt officials.
• Foster economic stability by enforcing zero-tolerance practices towards corruption.
  A transparent and open business community is a cornerstone of any strong democracy.

Role of the media in fighting corruption

While the importance of every individual, in fighting corruption, cannot be downplayed in any way, I think we will agree that the Media has a lot more powerpower, influence and the means to combat corruption than any single individual. I feel the media should play a much more responsible role and take up this challenge.

I feel that we rarely see a media house that is willing to go against the establishment and expose instances of corruption. In the US, when there were loud noises against the US War on Terror, Fox News would never have dared run consistent stories about the Bush family and their associates having stakes in petroleums and reconstruction cos. that had operations in Iraq. Fox News did no talk enough about Halliburton.

In fact, Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary for George Bush stated on a show called Hardball that the Bush White House routinely gave points to Fox News commentators in order to influence discourse and content. McClellan stated that they provided Fox with issues and perspectives favorable to the White House and Republican Party only with the intention of being seen in a positive light and not in an effort to disseminate news.

I think we need to expect more from the media and hold them responsible and accountable. We see a story of an MP slapping a Bank Manager. This was on TV, but do we know if any action was taken by the authorities? Ratings come only when you keep showing the slaps over and over again. After that the story loses its value for a news channel. This is what people in power wait for. Let the buzz die down. Then use your money, influence and/or connections to get out of any soup. Simple.

Arjun
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=656875317