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Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge Services
The 19th Standing Conference of Eastern, Central, & Southern Africa Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL) 2010 Conference will take place in Gaborone, Botswana from 3-9 December 2010.
Papers and discussions will address the Conference theme: “Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance through Effective Information and Knowledge ServicesÀ.
Through the contribution of libraries and information services free effective information and knowledge services do prevail in Africa. Free flow of Information can play an important role in contributing to democracy, good governance, social equality and economic growth within nations. In order to promote transparency and accountability on a national scale, every government needs to establish mechanisms to provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information. Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to national functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed. Information and knowledge creates a receptive, opened and questioning nation that forms the basis for strong democracy.
In today’s technological environment much can be done by libraries, media and other information outlets to promote the principles of free and democratic societies. It has been observed that, democracy depends both on freedom and accessibility of information and on an informed public. African governments must ensure that nationals have easy access to information more than ever before so as to promote the principle of good governance, democracy, social equality, and economic growth.
Sub-Themes:
To learn more, or obtain the invitation letter, click here.
Registration and exhibition details can be obtained from Dikgangb@mopipi.ub.bw,
Tel. (267) 355 2459; Cell. (267)71827118, Faculty of Science, University of Botswana.
Comment on Botswana Librarians meeting: 3 -9 December, 2010