Goals for
Open Government
OGP fosters global reform through transparency, citizen empowerment, & innovation in governance.
Summary
The Open Government Declaration is a commitment that countries must endorse to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP). By signing it, governments pledge to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and the responsible use of technology in governance. The declaration is voluntary but signals a country’s commitment to open government principles.
The declaration is built around four main commitments:
Increase government transparency: Governments commit to making information about their activities, spending, and performance publicly available in accessible, reusable formats. Citizens should have the right to access government information and seek remedies if information is improperly withheld.
Promote integrity and fight corruption: Governments pledge to uphold high ethical standards for public officials through measures such as asset disclosure, transparent public procurement, whistleblower protections, anti-corruption enforcement, and stronger legal frameworks.
Expand public participation: Governments commit to involving citizens, civil society, and businesses in policymaking and public decision-making, recognizing that meaningful participation improves governance and public services.
Leverage technology for openness: Governments agree to use digital technologies to improve access to information, deliver services, facilitate public engagement, and promote innovation, while ensuring technology complements-not replaces-clear and useful information.
The declaration also recognizes that open government is an ongoing process. Participating governments commit to publicly reporting on their progress, consulting with citizens, adapting to new challenges, sharing best practices internationally, and helping foster a global culture of open, participatory governance.
The Open Government Partnership
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to make governments more open, transparent, accountable, and responsive to citizens.
The OGP was launched in 2011 by eight founding governments: the United States, the Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, along with several Civil Society Organizations.
Today, its membership includes 77 countries, 150 local governments, and thousands of civil society organizations.
Open government as an approach means:
- Everyone can access relevant, usable, and timely information about government processes and decisions that impact their lives.
- Everyone has an equal opportunity to participate freely in shaping the public policies and decisions that impact their lives.
- Everyone has the freedom and ability to seek effective redress when the rule of law is not upheld, their rights are not respected, or their needs are unmet, without risk or harm. Public officials are accountable for their decisions and actions.
- Public resources are managed transparently, fairly, and equitably.
- Governments collaborate with civil society, academia, the private sector, and others to find and implement innovative and sustainable solutions to societal challenges.
- Transparency, accountability, participation, and inclusion are embedded in the culture and practice of governments at all levels.
The OGP is a community of reformers where ambitious reforms are championed through active collaborations. This relationship between government and civil society is the cornerstone of OGP.
Our Commitment to Open Government Goals
The Philippines, together the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa, founded on September 20, 2011, launched the Open Government Partnership, that aims to secure concrete commitments from national and sub-national governments to promote “open government”, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. In the spirit of multi-stakeholder collaboration, Goals for Open Government is overseen by a steering committee including representatives of governments and civil society organizations.
With the Philippines as one of the founding members of “Open Government” which now has about 75 member countries, the Alliance for Democracy, Economic and Moral Recovery Against Crime, Corruption and Terrorism (ADMOREACT), we are hopeful that we can have the full participation of our Local Government Units in increasing the participation of our citizen member volunteers
OGP provides a platform for reformers inside and outside of governments around the world to develop initiatives that promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. OGP aims to secure concrete commitments from national and sub-national governments that drive open government reform and innovation in an effort to push countries further in the areas of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. It is a voluntary partnership that countries opt to join and through which civil society organizations, in collaboration with government, can advance initiatives that they deem in line with their reform agendas.
The principles of OGP are best explained by the Open Government Declaration. As outlined in the declaration, participating countries are expected to adhere to the following principles:
1. Acknowledge that people all around the world are demanding more openness in government. They are calling for greater civic participation in public affairs, and seeking ways to make their governments more transparent, responsive, accountable, and effective.
2. Recognize that countries are at different stages in their efforts to promote openness in government, and that each of us pursues an approach consistent with our national priorities and circumstances and the aspirations of our citizens.
3. Accept responsibility for seizing this moment to strengthen our commitments to promote transparency, fight corruption, empower citizens, and harness the power of new technologies to make government more effective and accountable.
4. Uphold the value of openness in our engagement with citizens to improve services, manage public resources, promote innovation, and create safer communities. We embrace principles of transparency and open government with a view toward achieving greater prosperity, well-being, and human dignity in our own countries and in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Alliance for Democracy, Economic and Moral Recovery Against Crime, Corruption and Terrorism (ADMOREACT) recognizes the importance of good governance in the transformation of the Philippines towards progress and we will be coming up with programs, executed by our volunteers through the multiple general steps and strategies
Access to Information: Open government initiatives often focus on providing citizens with access to government information. This includes making government data and documents available to the public. By having access to information, citizens can better understand government actions, policies, and decisions.
1. Transparency: Open government involves transparency in decision-making. Citizens can advocate for transparency in areas such as budget allocation, public contracts, and policy formulation. When governments are more transparent, it’s easier for citizens to hold them accountable for their actions.
2. Public Participation: Many governments are increasingly seeking input from citizens when making decisions. This can happen through public consultations, town hall meetings, surveys, and online platforms. Citizens can participate in these processes to voice their opinions and provide feedback on various issues.
3. Citizen Monitoring: Citizens and civil society organizations can monitor government activities to ensure they are adhering to laws and regulations. This can involve tracking public spending, evaluating policy implementation, and reporting any irregularities.
4. Advocacy and Lobbying: Citizens can form or join advocacy groups focused on open government, transparency, and accountability. These groups can work to influence government policies and practices through lobbying efforts, raising awareness, and collaborating with lawmakers.
5. Technology and Innovation: Technology plays a crucial role in open government initiatives. Citizens can leverage digital tools to access information, engage with government officials, and collaborate with fellow citizens on various issues.
6. Media and Journalism: Free and independent media can play a vital role in promoting open government. Investigative journalism can uncover government corruption or misconduct, bringing such issues to the public’s attention.
7. Legal Mechanisms: In some cases, citizens can use legal mechanisms to ensure government transparency and accountability. This might involve filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or taking legal action to challenge government actions.
8. Elections: While not directly related to open government treaties, elections are a fundamental way citizens can influence their government. By voting for candidates who support open government principles, citizens can indirectly shape government policies. While not requiring ADMOREACT to vote for certain candidates, we would like to come up with guidelines and “inside information” on corrupt officials whom we should not vote for and those whose bills are not congruent with Filipino culture and values.
