What is the Lyon Declaration on Access to Information and Development?
The Lyon Declaration is an advocacy document that will be used to positively influence the content of the United Nations post-2015 development agenda. It was drafted by IFLA and a number of strategic partners in the library and development communities between January and May 2014.
The Declaration states clearly that access to information supports development by empowering people to:
- Exercise their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
- Learn and apply new skills
- Make decisions and participate in an active and engaged civil society
- Create community-based solutions to development challenges
- Ensure accountability, transparency, good governance, and empowerment
- Measure progress on public and private commitments on sustainable development.
The Declaration calls upon United Nations Member States to make an international commitment through the post-2015 development agenda to ensure that everyone has access to, and is able to understand, use and share the information that is necessary to promote sustainable development and democratic societies.
The Declaration was launched at the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Lyon, France, 18 August 2014. Organisations who share the vision expressed are invited to sign the Declaration.
Read the Declaration.
What happens next?
The Lyon Declaration is the basis of advocacy between the period September 2014 and September 2015. IFLA, in partnership with signatories, organises events and activities to raise the profile of the Declaration at national, regional and international levels, with the intention to ensure that access to information is recognised in the framework to be launched by the United Nations at the end of 2015.
We strongly encourage you to utilise the Lyon Declaration for your own advocacy and help to make a difference to people worldwide by enabling access to information.