By Amara Thoronka
Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw – RAIC Chair & Info Commissioner
Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has been invited by the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) to tap into his very great and enviable experience in access to information and data protection.
“I would like to invite you as a panellist at the XV Edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC), scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 June 2024, in Tirana, Albania. As you may know, the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) is a worldwide annual forum which connects Information Commissioners, Ombudspersons and other bodies in charge with overseeing the implementation of Access to Public Information legislation, in order to foster the protection and the promotion of access to public information as a fundamental pillar to social, economic and democratic governance,” the invitation letter reads.
It could be recalled that the International Conference of Information Commissioners first met in 2003, and since then, it has been meeting regularly. In March 2019, the Conference reached a milestone when it adopted its Governance Charter.
The ICIC’s mission is to share knowledge and best practices, to build capacity, to help identify what is needed for global progress and to act as a collective voice in international fora with a view to improving people’s right to public information and their ability to hold to account bodies that provide public functions.
The 15th ICIC Conference will be held in Tirana, the capital of Albania, under the under the theme: “Empowering Individuals through Access to Information: Ensuring Transparency and Inclusivity in an Interconnected World”. It will be comprised of two days of open session to be held on 3-4 June 2024 which will be followed by a closed session on June 5. It will feature panel sessions, parallel sessions, regional meetings and side events.
Requesting the participation of Dr. Shaw at the said Conference, ICIC noted: “Accordingly, in view of your experience in data protection and freedom of information, we are honoured to invite you to participate in a panel on Day One of the Conference from 14.00-15.15 on Monday 3 June.”
Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw is requested to participate in the parallel session (II) which covers striking proper balance between ATI and data protection rights in the digital realm and how to protect citizens ‘personal data while making efforts on ensuring digital information rights.
The said panel session will explore the equilibrium between advancing access to information in the digital realm and preserving individual privacy rights. “As we journey into an era of digitalization, our expert panellists will discuss innovative strategies and ethical considerations to strike a harmonious balance between the imperative of transparency and the protection of personal data,” the conference organizers noted.
Dr. Shaw will be participating in the panel discussion with high-profile figures and institutions in the access to information and data protection spectrum including Bruno Lasserre, the President of the Commission for Access to Administrative Documents in France; a representative from the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information in Germany, a representative from the National Agency of Information Society in Albania, and the Right to Information and Data Protection Authority in Mexico.
Since he took over the leadership of Sierra Leone’s Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw has ensured structural developments, capacity building, open data system, fast and easy access to information from public authorities, an up and running website and social media handles, pacesetting of transparency and accountability, popularization of RAIC’s mandate and activities, guiding people and entities on processes and legal framework in accessing information, among others.
Dr. Shaw is an accomplished academic and expert in media, communication and access to information with national and international recognition.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, May 8TH, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)