Focus Areas

Focus Areas:

The theme of the conference is premised on the argument that access to credible and accurate information, especially proactive information disclosure, can be a recipe for information integrity and the prevention of information disorder. If public authorities refuse to proactively disclose information, or provide information on request, it is likely that the public would look elsewhere for such information which may make them vulnerable to accessing misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.

The conference will aim to attract participants from diverse sectoral backgrounds dealing with information integrity, including information commissions, ombudsmen, partners, the media, academia, the security sector, civil society, and NGOs from more than 80 countries globally. The first two days of the conference will feature open plenary and parallel sessions while the last day will feature closed sessions.

There will also be side events hosted by potential partners in the ATI movement. There will be a special plenary focusing on how good record-keeping will enhance access to information and information integrity with the potential to showcase the UNESCO-funded Records Management Training Manual for Africa.

With Sierra Leone as the host, it will be the second time the ICIC conference is holding in Africa, the first time was in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2019. It will also be the second time the IDUAI global conference is holding in Africa, the first time was in Accra, Ghana, in October, 2024.

To the extent that Africa is the home of most countries that have experienced, or are experiencing, armed conflict, health emergencies, climate actions, elections in emerging democracies, and humanitarian disasters where people are more vulnerable to information disorder and its devastating consequences, the 2026 17TH ICIC-IDUAI conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone promises to be even more impactful on future interventions to sanitise the information ecosystem not only in Africa, but the rest of the world.

For more information about the conference visit the following link.... FULL CONCEPT OF THE CONFERENCE...