Open Government Leaders Convene in New York to Discuss the Future of Open Government

New York – Today, ministers and civil society leaders from over a dozen countries gathered on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly to discuss initiatives to further advance open government reforms in their respective countries and at the international level aimed at building trust and strengthening democracies. 

This high-level meeting, convened by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) provided a unique space for political leaders, civil society representatives, and international organizations to emphasize the importance of working across sectors and levels of government to raise ambition in open government reforms to address the challenges of our time and deliver for and with citizens. 

The discussions focused on the critical need to deliver the ambitious commitments made through the Open Government Challenge, a global campaign designed to drive transformative reforms across 10 key areas of open government including anti-corruption, civic space, public participation, digital governance, and more. 

“This meeting is a testament to the power of partnership between government and civil society,” said Doctor Cielo Magno, President of Bantay Kita-Publish What You Pay Philippines. “We must work hand in hand to protect and strengthen our democracies, ensuring that they remain resilient in the face of growing challenges.”

Doctor Magno prepares to assume the role of Co-Chair of the OGP Steering Committee on October 1, 2024 alongside the Government of Spain. Spain and Magno’s leadership will focus on rebuilding citizen trust in government institutions and leveraging the power of three axis points, ‘people, institutions, and technology’. They will be succeeded by the Government of Brazil and Stephanie Muchai in late 2025.

This meeting fuels OGP’s ongoing work, particularly as it prepares for upcoming regional events in Brazil, the Philippines and Kenya where these issues will be further explored. As the world faces unprecedented challenges, the commitment of these leaders to advancing open government initiatives represents a beacon of hope for a better future.

For press queries or more information, please contact jose.perez@opengovpartnership.org. 

ABOUT OGP: 

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a unique global initiative that brings together governments and civil society to drive concrete commitments aimed at promoting transparency, increasing public participation, combating corruption, and leveraging technology to make governments more open, effective, and accountable to citizens worldwide.

Launched on September 20, 2011, during the UN General Assembly, OGP began with eight heads of state and an equal number of civil society leaders endorsing the Open Government Declaration and unveiling the first set of action plans, each containing specific commitments to advance open government reforms. Since then, OGP has expanded to 77 countries, 150 local governments, and thousands of civil society organizations. OGP’s Independent Reporting Mechanism ensures accountability by providing comprehensive, impartial reports that assess government progress on these commitments.