Tanzania clamps down on OGP Steering Committee member
From Paul Maassen Chief, Country Support
Open Government Partnership
At its recent meeting held in Washington D.C. on December 5-6 2018, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee discussed the situation concerning OGP civil society Steering Committee member Aidan Eyakuze, who has been unable to leave his home country Tanzania after having his passport confiscated by Tanzanian officials in July 2018. Aidan is co-chair of the Criteria and Standards subcommittee and has a key role in OGP’s governance.
The full OGP Steering Committee* endorsed the following statement:
OGP Steering Committee Statement on Aidan Eyakuze
5 December 2018
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee expresses its deep concern and regret over OGP civil society Steering Committee member Aidan Eyakuze being unable to travel outside of Tanzania to participate in this week’s Steering Committee meeting in Washington, DC. Aidan currently co-chairs one of the OGP Steering Committee’s most important governance mechanisms, the Criteria and Standards Sub-Committee.
It has come to the Steering Committee’s attention that Aidan’s inability to travel outside of Tanzania since July 2018 is a result of government actions.
Aidan’s participation in OGP Steering Committee Meetings is crucial. Aidan plays a central leadership role at the OGP and we regret that he could not attend the December meeting. We respectfully request the assistance of the Tanzania Government in addressing the situation so that Aidan can participate in upcoming OGP meetings.
***ENDS***
The OGP Steering Committee is comprised of 11 government and 11 civil society leaders which together guide the ongoing direction and strategy of OGP. The current composition of the Steering Committee is as follows:
Civil Society
María Baron, Directorio Legislativo
Helen Darbishire, Access Info Europe
Aidan Eyakuze, Twaweza
Delia Ferreira Rubio, Transparency International
Nathaniel Heller, Results for Development (Lead Civil Society Co-Chair 2018-2019)
Robin Hodess, The B Team (Incoming Civil Society Co-Chair 2019-2020)
Suneeta Kaimal, Natural Resource Governance Institute
Giorgi Kldiashvili, Director of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information
Tur-Od Lkhagvajav, Asia Democracy Network
Lucy McTernan, University of York
Zuzana Wienk, Fair Play Alliance
*Scott Miller, Trust Democracy Australia (additional Civil Society member)
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