Suva, Fiji - Integrity Fiji and its youth network Youths for Integrity launched the innovative YouthACT creative anti-corruption and Right to Information (RTI) art products in Suva, Fiji today. The initiative aims to address corruption risks by raising awareness about the RTI through traditional art such as music, poetry and dance, and digital creativity employing video and social media. With a focus on improving public access to information about government procurement, the project has been collaborating with the Ministry of Economy’s Procurement Section to develop innovative and effective public messaging on transparent and accountable procurement. The launch provided the opportunity for participants to showcase their talents and creativity.

Improved public access to information is critical to efficient procurement of public services. It means citizens and media organizations can engage actively to detect corruption and hold government and public officials to account. It also means that shortcomings in the public sector are identified and corrected quickly, that media misreporting is reduced, and that trust between government and citizens enhances overtime.

YouthACT was created by the Youths for Integrity Network, the youth wing of Integrity Fiji, a Fijian civil society organization (CSO). It is one of the civil society initiatives that was awarded a grant from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) ‘Strengthening Anticorruption, Transparency and Accountability in Pacific Island Countries’ project (also known as ‘Pacific Anti-Corruption project’), which is funded by the UK Government. The grants aim to encourage CSOs to contribute to enhanced advocacy and awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) and develop practical tools to improve public access to official information.

The event was attended by Dr Brian Jones, British High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr. Levan Bouadze, Resident Representative of the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, Mr. Saimoni Kila, Head of Fiji Procurement Office, and Mr. Joseph Veramu, Executive Director, Integrity Fiji.

Dr. Jones, said, “The Right to Information is central to the fundamental human right to freedom of expression. It is recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Open data – government data and information that is available for everyone to access and share – is a critical tool to enhance transparency and accountability and reduce corruption.”

“The more citizens know about government spending, official statistics, and the details of legislation, for example, the better government can be held to account. Open data keeps governments alert, responsive and honest. It means better policies for society, the economy and the environment, and helps ensure that no one is left behind,” Dr Jones added.

Mr. Bouadze said, “The Right to Information is an important element of the 2030 Agenda, a global blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone. Sustainable Development Goal 16, which is both an enabler and an outcome of sustainable development, includes the requirement to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. Civil society has an important role to play in promoting the Right to Information and bringing the concept closer to the citizens, including youth as future leaders.”

Mr. Veramu said, “The more citizens know about government spending, the better government can be scrutinized. However, not everyone is aware that nearly all government information belongs to them and that they have the right to access it, inspect it, and complain if they detect corruption or some other illegality. Creative initiatives such as our YouthACT project help demystify the official procurement process and increase public understanding about the importance of the Right to Information.”

“After all the hard work by the participants, I am delighted to see YouthACT final products launched today. Promoting fairness, honesty and integrity in government procurement processes, and raising public confidence in them, is an important objective for Integrity Fiji. This project is an important and creative step in that direction and we thank UNDP and the UK Government for their support,” Mr. Veramu added.

The UK-funded UNDP project ‘Strengthening Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability in Pacific Island Countries’ (also known as the ‘Pacific Anti-Corruption Project’) is working to ensure that Pacific Island Countries are better able to prevent and tackle corruption and improve implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 16.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Setaita Tavanabola UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji; email: setaita.tavanabola@undp.org;
tel: (679) 3227 523;