South Africa to host high level anniversary of the Open Government Partnership on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly
The government of South Africa led by His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma as Lead Chair on the Open Government Partnership (OGP) will host a five year anniversary event of the OGP on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York on 20 September 2016.
This event which will also serve as a platform for the official handover of the position of Lead Chair of the OGP by South Africa will be attended by Heads of State and Government, civil society leaders and others stakeholders who have been instrumental to OGP’s success so far. South Africa assumed the position of Lead Chair of the Partnership at the Mexico Summit in October 2015.
Since eight Heads of State and Government partnered with nine civil society leaders to launch the Open Government Partnership on the margins of UNGA in 2011, this dynamic partnership has grown to 70 governments and thousands of civil society organisations across the world, with over 3 000 specific commitments to increase transparency and accountability of governments and to improve public participation.
During its tenure as Lead Chair of this global Partnership, South Africa has championed the Open Government Declaration on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which will see OGP member countries incorporating Sustainable Development Goals in their OGP country action plans.
South Africa in its tenure also prioritised legislative openness, open data, and broadening civil society participation to include grass root organisation and vulnerable groups within the OGP.
The year 2016 saw the first country in the OGP to be placed as inactive in terms of the Response Policy on Upholding the Values and Principles of the OGP. The Response Policy is intent on assisting countries to overcome difficulties and re-establish an environment government and civil society collaboration. South Africa maintains its position that the OGP should not become a tool of punishment but rather a platform for mutual learning and experience sharing.
South Africa has also championed active participation of young people in the Open Government Partnership. Given the fact that there are 1.8 billion young people in the world right now it is crucial that they be included in the global decision-making processes. The fifth anniversary event will include the participation of youth representatives who will share their perspectives on the future of the OGP.
The five year anniversary event will reflect on the momentum and scale of achievements and commitments that have been made through OGP and will encourage participants to address a number of challenges the partnership faces over the next five years.
The anniversary will also serve as a moment to pay tribute Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United State as the founding countries of the Open Government Partnership.
Enquiries:
Lebohang Mafokosi (Media Liaison Officer)
Cell: 0823124641
