In order to be able to take part in decision-making that affects our health or the environment, we must first have the information that we need to inform our involvement in those decisions.
In a democracy people have the right to know and should be provided with easy access to information. It is necessary to raise public awareness and to ensure the effective participation of the public in matters of concern to them.
For many years information on the state of the environment or the effects of certain activities on it were clouded in secrecy.
The Aarhus Convention, 1998, in its objective states that "In order to contribute to the protection of the right of every person of present and future generations to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being, each Party shall guarantee the rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters in accordance with the provisions of this Convention."
