Country Reports

Note: Information & Communication Technologies and Access to Public Information Laws

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After a brief overview of the evolution of ATI laws in Latin America, this note deals with various key aspects of the three above-mentioned countries’ portals. Following the overview, the note is divided into several sections based on the main aspects of the portals: characteristics, design, implementation, use, and training and promotion.

In English

In Spanish

Guide – The Latin American Approach to Transparency and Access to Information

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SUMMARY – By providing greater access to public information and promoting transparency, Latin American countries seek to improve social oversight, inform citizens about government policies and programmes, advance other human rights, reduce corruption and enhance overall accountability. This ELLA Guide analyses various initiatives implemented in the region, as well as the key role played by civil society in the Latin American […]

Policy brief – Fighting Corruption by Improving Transparency and Access to Information

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SUMMARY – Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in the last decades countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Paraguay have designed and created electronic platforms that make information about procurement and government officials’ personal assets public. These electronic platforms have guaranteed an effective and transparent flow of public information, thereby empowering citizens to identify and demand action against […]

Practice brief – Using Information for Accountability and Justice

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SUMMARY – Throughout Latin America, civil society organisations (CSOs) are exacting accountability by undertaking independent assessments of the implementation and outcomes of public policies and programmes. To get the information needed for these assessments, CSOs have used the Right to Information guaranteed by Freedom of Information Acts (FOIAs), Constitutions or Court decisions. By conducting these exercises, civil society has highlighted mismanagement and […]

Practice Brief – Civil Society’s Regional Network for Advancing Freedom of Expression and Access to Information

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SUMMARY – The Regional Alliance for the Freedom of Expression and Information (the Alliance), an innovative civil society network, has had a major role in promoting freedom of expression and the right to information regionally. The Alliance coordinates the efforts of 23 civil society organisations (CSOs) from 19 American countries and carries outextensive advocacy work at the regional level.1 […]

Citizen Assessment of Budget Transparency: Latin American Budget Transparency Index

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SUMMARY – Civil society organisations (CSOs) developed a new benchmarking exercise to assess and compare levels of budget transparency across countries in order to address a specific transparency problem: budget information may be available, but it is not useful. Since 2001, CSOs and academic institutions have implemented the Latin American Budget Transparency Index (Índice Latinomericano de Transparencia Presupuestaria – […]

The Power of Using the Right to Information Act in Bangladesh: Experiences from the Ground

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Fifteen cases from Bangladesh to showcase how an abstract law can become relevant and useful for everyday citizens, while building the capacity of NGOs to document their experiences for further dissemination.

Advancing Access to Information Principles Through Performance Management Mechanisms: The Case of Canada

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On the basis of a detailed case study of the government of Canada, this report examineshow management accountability processes operating within public services may contribute to the promotion and enforcement of access laws.

Budgeting Implications for ATI legislation: The Mexican Case

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The paper analyzes the budgeting implications of implementation of access to information legislation in Mexico.

IDRC Report – Uganda

Uganda RTI Report by the IDRC and Greenwatch Uganda

IDRC Report – South Africa

South Africa RTI Report by IDRC and ODAC

IDRC Reports – Ghana

 

Ghana RTI Report created by IDRC and CDD Ghana