The United Nations (UN’s) International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is annually observed across the globe on 28th September to raise awareness about strengthening and implementing information laws.
- 28th September 2025 marks the 6th observance of UN’s IDUAI.
Exam Hints:
- What? International Day for Universal Access to Information 2025
- When? 28 September
- Theme: Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age
- First Declaration: by UNESCO in 2015
- UN Adoption: 2019
- UN 1st Observance: 2020
- Event: Global event organised on 29-30 September 2025 by UNESCO and Republic of the Philippines.
- AI4IA Conference: UNESCO IFAP WGIA organised Sixth AI4IA Conference on 28 September 2025.
Theme:
The theme of IDUAI 2025 is “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age”, emphasizes the role of digital technologies and open data in providing timely environmental information to combat climate change and support sustainable development.
Background:
Adoption by UNESCO: In 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference adopted Resolution 38 C/57, officially proclaiming 28 September each year as the IDUAI.
UNESCO Commemoration: From 2016 onward, UNESCO has been marking the day by hosting a Global Conference along with various national events worldwide.
UNGA Recognition: On 15 October 2019, during its 74th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/74/5, formally declaring 28 September as IDUAI in recognition of its importance for development, democracy, and equality.
First UN Observation: The first official UN observance of IDUAI took place on 28 September 2020.
Significance:
Empower Citizens: Access to Information (ATI) enables people to make informed choices, promotes transparency, and supports participation in democracy.
Inclusive Access: It upholds freedom of expression and ensures equal access to digital information for all.
2025 Events:
Event in Philippines:
Event Hosting: On 29–30 September 2025, Manila, Philippines hosted the IDUAI, organized by UNESCO in partnership with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
10th Anniversary: The 2025 commemoration also marked the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO General Conference’s designation of 28 September as IDUAI.
Global Significance: The event highlights the vital role of access to information in advancing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that guarantees public access to information and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
Sixth AI4IA Conference of IFAP:
Conference: On 28 September 2025, the UNESCO Information For All Programme (IFAP) Working Group on Information Accessibility (WGIA) hosted its sixth one-day online AI4IA (Artificial Intelligence for Information Accessibility) Conference in commemoration of the IDUAI.
Collaborations: The event is organized in collaboration with the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Alberta (Canada), the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) (Canada), and the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission (JBC), with the support of the UNESCO Regional Offices for the Caribbean and Southern Africa.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO):
Director-General (DG)– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Member Nations– 194
Established-1945
