Special program marks the International Day for Universal Access to Information
ORANJESTAD, September 24, 2026: On September 28, 2026, the International Day for Universal Access to Information will be commemorated with a special presentation and the inauguration of the exhibition “Letra y Consenshi: Balor Humano di un Pueblo” (Script and Conscience: Human Value of a People) at Post Aruba N.V., running from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The gathering will feature various presentations on the importance of access to information and its impact on our community.
Program
5:30 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.: Guest reception
5:40 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.: Introduction and welcome
5:45 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.: Birgit Kreykenbohm – UNESCO Aruba: The Importance of the International Day for Universal Access to Information
5:55 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.: Iliene Corsen – Post Aruba N.V.: What is truth in an era of information overload?
6:15 p.m. – 6:35 p.m.: Johny van Eerden – Archivo Nacional Aruba: Whose voice do we hear in the archives?
6:35 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.: Renwick Heronimo – Biblioteca Nacional Aruba: Presentation of the exhibition “Letra y Consenshi”
6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: Closing, exhibition viewing, and networking
The theme chosen by UNESCO for this year is: “Addressing information disorder: The role of access to information for maintaining information integrity in the digital age.”
The theme emphasizes that in an era characterized by the rapid circulation of digital content, merely having access to information is not enough. Information must be reliable, verifiable, and presented within its proper context. Access to authentic sources and original documents is essential to combat misinformation, misleading content, and the distortion of historical facts.
In this regard, the inauguration of “Letra y Consenshi” holds special significance. The exhibition confronts us with a period in Aruba’s history when access to education, the written word, and information was restricted for a large portion of the population. In particular, enslaved individuals lacked the freedom and opportunity to document their own experiences, raise their voices, or defend their rights.
Today, access to information is recognized as a fundamental human right and a vital prerequisite for education, transparency, civic participation, and a democratic society. Documents that were once inaccessible or kept exclusively in archives and special collections can now be preserved, researched, digitized, and shared with a much wider audience.
The contrast between past and present highlights the importance of preserving documentary memory. Where many voices were unrecorded or unheard in the past, we now share a collective responsibility to seek out, interpret, and share their stories. Access to these documents enables the community to know its past, verify information, reflect on historical injustices, and understand how they shaped Aruba’s identity and development.
“Letra y Consenshi” features documents and narratives relating to slavery and emancipation in Aruba. Through historical sources, the exhibition brings visibility to the human experiences that form part of our collective memory. In this way, the written word serves not only as evidence of the past, but also as a tool for historical integrity, recognition, dialogue, and awareness.
Collaborative efforts between the National Memory of the World Committee Aruba, UNESCO Aruba, Biblioteca Nacional Aruba, Archivo Nacional Aruba, Fundacion Amigonan di Archivo (ADA), Coleccion Aruba, Herdenkingscomite Slavernijverleden, and Post Aruba N.V. strengthen the preservation, research, and dissemination of reliable information for present and future generations.
The participating institutions cordially invite the entire community to attend the event and visit the exhibition “Letra y Consenshi: Balor Humano di un Pueblo” at Post Aruba N.V. starting this coming Monday, September 28.
Come and discover how words, documents, and memory help us understand the past, safeguard information integrity, and build a future grounded in knowledge and awareness.
