Global Movement uses International ‘Right to Know Day“ to push for budget transparency worldwide
September 28, 2013 – The Global Movement for Budget Transparency, Accountability and Participation (BTAP) organized a Day of Action to raise awareness on the need to advance budget transparency, accountability and participation across the world. Over 55 civil society organizations -which have been working on budget transparency for decades-, from more than 40 countries have organized numerous actions to demand from governments and legislators a stronger commitment to the fulfilment of their right to access budget information, to participate in relevant decision making processes and to, ultimately, hold their governments to account.
Access to Information is a fundamental human right. According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.” In addition, public budgets are raised through citizens’ contributions and the income generated by public assets. Thus, the founding belief of BTAP is that participation in the decisions related to public budgets is a fundamental right and responsibility of all citizens.
For this reason, the Movement calls out to all governments, legislators and international institutions around the world to adhere to the following principles:
• Public budgets must be transparent, meaning that all information related to the way in which public money is raised, allocated, spent and accounted should be made available to the general public in an accessible, timely and comprehensible way.
• Budget processes must be inclusive, ensuring open and ample opportunities for all citizens to fulfill their right to know about, participate in, and influence all decisions with regard to the collection, allocation and management of public funds.
• Budget data must be accurate, relying on publicly known estimates and ensuring that governments spend public monies on the priorities for which they were approved, thereby reducing the room for leakages, corruption and inefficiencies.
• Budgets have to be comprehensive, encompassing all revenues and expenditures, regardless of their origin — including international aid, parastatal funds and the management of internal and external debt.
For more information, go to http://globalbtap.org/2013/join-btap-in-a-day-of-action-to-promote-budget-transparency/ or please contact Rocio Moreno rocio@globalbtap.org or Elodie Nace elodie@globalbtap.org
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ABOUT BTAP: The Global Movement for Budget Transparency, Accountability and Participation (BTAP) is an effort by a broad range of activists and organizations working on public finance and budget accountability issues around the world to achieve human rights. BTAP brings together over 140 civil society organizations from more than 60 countries in an integrated and vibrant movement. International organizations are also part of BTAP and bring their own expertise at the international level.