Two EU-funded projects – NET-MED Youth and Support Media in Jordan – joined hands to support the celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).

The celebration took place on October 4, 2017 in an outdoors space at the Jordan University for Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid. This year, the theme was “Powering Sustainable Development with Access to Information.”

The attendance at this TEDx-style event was a diverse pool of over 170 students, academics, and representatives of government, civil society, the donor and diplomatic community. They engaged in a public discussion on the role of access to information in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Jordan. The conversations highlighted the information needs of young people and persons with disabilities and the role that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can play in overcoming the various information challenges and societal barriers facing youth.

“Access to information and knowledge is a key element to addressing inequalities, since it gives individuals the opportunity to make informed decisions that affect their lives,” said Anders Pedersen, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan. “Poor and vulnerable groups often lack information that is vital to their lives. They usually cannot access information on basic rights and entitlements, public services, health, education, work opportunities, public expenditure budgets, etc. They also lack visibility and voice to enable them to define and influence policy priorities and access resources.”

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Press Release

NET-MED Youth