Panel VII – Akademieraum 1 – 23 June 2025, 16:15
“The Important Role of Civil Society and Media in the Context of Strengthening the Right of Access to Environmental Information”
Moderation
Marius Lukosiunas, Advisor for Communication and Information, Section for Universal Access to Information and Digital Inclusion, UNESCO
Short Biography
Since 2005, Marius Lukošiūnas has worked for UNESCO, serving as Advisor for Communication and Information in the Moscow (2005–2010) and Cairo (2010–2014) offices, and later at UNESCO headquarters in Paris within the Universal Access to Information section.
Before UNESCO, he was Head of the Press Service and Advisor to the President of Lithuania (2004–2005). He also served as media and political affairs officer for the UN Mission in Kosovo and managed EU enlargement-related media projects at the European Journalism Center in Maastricht (1997–2000).
Marius began his career as a journalist for Lithuanian TV, producing and moderating presidential debates during Lithuania’s first presidential elections in 1992. He also directed the Institute of Journalism at Vilnius University from 1992 to 1997.
Panelists
Anjali Bhardwaj, Founder, SNS (Satark Nagrik Sangathan- Citizens Vigilance Initiative) & Co-Convenor, National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information
Short Biography
Anjali Bhardwaj has been closely associated with the Right to Information (RTI) movement in India since the year 2000 and is a Co-Convenor of the National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI). NCPRI played a pivotal role in campaigning for a strong RTI Act in India and since the passage of the law in 2005, has been working to ensure its effective implementation. NCPRI has been advocating for a series of anti-corruption and grievance redress laws, including the Whistleblowers Protection Act. It works closely with other movements and campaigns in the country, on the use of the RTI Act to seek accountability.
Anjali is the founder of Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group working in the slum settlements of Delhi, with a mandate to promote transparency in government functioning and to assist people in using the RTI Act to access information of relevance to them. She has been leading efforts to monitor the implementation of the RTI Act in India and has co-authored several national reports.
She is associated with various rights-based struggles in India and is a member of the Steering Committee of the National Right to Food Campaign and the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms.
Flutura Kusari, Senior Legal Advisor, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Short Biography
Flutura leads ECPMF’s legal support programme, which has supported hundreds of media workers across Europe. She also advocates with international organisations to improve legislation to defend freedom of expression.
During the last decade, she has been engaged in building capacities of judges, prosecutors, police officers, and lawyers on freedom of expression across the Western Balkans.
In addition, she advises journalists on pre- and post- publication legal matters such as defamation, access to information, contempt of court, and privacy.
Flutura co-leads the Anti-SLAPP work at the European level as part of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) and as an expert for the European Union and Council of Europe.
She holds a PhD in Media Law from Ghent University, Belgium.
Henri Christin Longendja, Executive Secretary of COLLECTIF 24, Executive Director of CODHOD
Short Biography
Congolese nationality, Mr. Henri Christin Longendja Isamboyo is a civil society actor and human rights defender at the national and African levels. A communicator and expert technician in local governance, public finances, advocacy techniques, animation, and project/program management with national, regional, and international experience, he is also a teacher and Principal Inspector in national education and new citizenship; an expert in action research for the defense of human rights of communities, street children, women, and gender, and a defender of fundamental freedoms with proven knowledge in civic education and responsible citizenship.
He is an African facilitator of participatory budgeting and a focal point for the International Observatory of Participatory Democracy.
He has been leading advocacy for years to promote the right of access to information and initiated the proposal for a law on access to information and transparency in public life in the DRC. The proposal was carried by Honorable Jacques DJOLI, Rapporteur of the National Assembly.
He is the Executive Secretary of COLLECTIF 24 and Executive Director of CODHOD.
AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
Short Biography
AHM Bazlur Rahman is the Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication and the Ambassador for Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Bangladesh. His work encompasses a wide range of national, regional, and international initiatives focused on communication rights, the right to information, digital platform integrity, media development, ICT4D, digital transformation, and promoting digital democracy.
He was honored to receive the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prize as a Winner in 2016 and to be recognized as a Champion in the years 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2025, reflecting his commitment to the UN WSIS action line on localization in Bangladesh.
He facilitated the implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap on Digital Cooperation and our Common Agenda in Bangladesh, ensuring alignment with the Global Digital Compact at the Summit of the Future 2024. This initiative, known as the Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering, and Amplifying Unified Voices, aims to enhance participation and representation concerning the Global Digital Compact and the UN Summit for the Future 2024, reinforcing the importance of amplifying Bangladesh’s perspectives at both the UN GDC and the UN Summit for the Future
Ida Westphal, FragDenStaat / Climate Helpdesk, Open Knowledge Foundation Deutschland e.V.
Short Biography
Ida Westphal is a fully qualified lawyer from Germany and an expert in environmental law, particularly in the areas of climate, agriculture, resources and energy.
She joined the Legal Team of the research and transparency platform FragDenStaat in 2024 and supports its Climate Helpdesk.
She has several years of experience in strategic litigation in the field of environmental and climate protection.
In addition, she pursues a PhD in the field of environmental law and gender.