Photo contest: How do you see your right to know?

“Opening the door to government is only the first step. We have to make sure the citizens know the doors are open.”

– Elisabeth Unger Bleier, Transparencia por Colombia

How can one convey in an image the concept of the right to information? What comes to your mind when you think of the right to know?

Perhaps local activists demanding to know about local budgets, or journalists researching a story, or maybe citizens waiting to hear results of elections… these are just some of the ways in which the right to know can be illustrated.

We invite you to go and create these images, and share your photos with the world. The Freedom of Information Advocates Network is inviting photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, to submit their images to an international photo contest organised to commemorate International Right to Know Day on 28 September.

Photos will be displayed in an online gallery and be used to illustrate an annual publication to commemorate the tenth anniversary of International Right to Know Day. Selections will also be disseminated on blogs and websites worldwide.

What is the right to know?

It is the right of everyone to ask questions of governments and intergovernmental organisations and to receive answers. The right of access to information also places the obligation on governments to promote information proactively so that the public can know what their authorities are doing without having to file requests for information.

To date, nearly 100 states have some form of law, regulation or initiative recognising the right to information. The quality and the application of these laws varies widely, according to recent research. Even when the quality is excellent, everyday practice shows that there are still millions of people who don’t have access to information about things they want to know: from entitlements to food vouchers, or places in school, to distribution of medicines or disbursement of money dedicated to help people worldwide.

Who’s organising the contest?

The Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) is an international information-sharing network of over 300 organisations and individuals working to promote the right of access to information. Members of FOIAnet are civil society organisations with active programmes to promote the right to know. Transparency International is member of FOIAnet’s steering committee and many of our national chapters are also active in promoting the right to access to information.

How to participate

You can send up to two photos in JPG format, no more than 5MB per image and high-quality (minimum 2300x3500 pixels).

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, 12 September 2012.

The Jury will award three prizes, for a total of 1000 euros, generously made available by the Open Society Institute. The prizes will be distributed as follows: 1st prize: 500 euros, 2nd prize: 300 euros, 3rd Prize: 200 euros.

You’ll find the submission forms and rules on the FOIAnet website.