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  • 7 March 2013

    World Bank Study Focuses on RTI Implementaton Issues

    Right to information laws “will accomplish little” in poor countries, according to the author of new World Bank study, “unless concerted efforts are made to address the broader enabling environment, and appropriate capacity building strategies are devised.”   The report by Anupama Dokeniya is based on individual research studies of implementation in eight countries: Albania, […]

  • 28 January 2013

    New Head of Mexican IFAI Blasted by Colleague

    The inauguration of Gerardo Laveaga as the new head of the Federal Institute of Access to Information and Data Protection (IFAI) was accompanied by strong criticisms from a fellow commissioner. Commissioner Angeles Trinidad Zaldivar called Laveaga “inexperienced and lazy.” In a Jan. 21 speech at the event, he said Laveaga has outstanding 291 matters before […]

  • 21 December 2012

    Mexican Senate Advances Amendments to FOI Law

    The Mexican Senate on Dec. 20 unanimously approved amendments to the freedom of information law, increasing the powers of the FOI oversight body. Under the legislation, supported by new president Enrique Peña Nieto, the Federal Institute of Access to Information (IFAI) would gain new autonomy, with its decisions made binding. (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.)  This […]

  • 12 November 2012

    Mexican Senate Moving Closer to FOI Legislation

    The Mexican Senate is considering significant changes to the Mexican freedom of information regime, most considered positive by FOI advocates, and getting to the stage where the specifics are being debated. The drafting of constitutional amendments and legislation is under way behind the scenes, according to several close observers of the process. The three major […]

  • 16 August 2012

    Mexico Expands OGP Commitments in New Plan

    The Mexican government has expanded its Open Government Partnership national action plan beyond the first one created last September, incorporating more suggestions from civil society. The Expanded Action Plan (in English) presented during a press conference in Mexico City June 6 includes 36 commitments to advance transparency and accountability that must be met by September 2012. “The […]

  • 23 April 2012

    Mexican Senate Okays Laveaga to Post on IFAI

    The Mexican Senate has approved the appointment of Gerardo Laveaga as a commissioner of the Federal Institute of Access to Information, notwithstanding doubts about his experience and independence raised by nongovernmental organizations. A coalition of 11 groups had opposed his nomination saying it violated Article 35 of the Mexican freedom of information law, which states that […]

  • 22 September 2011

    Mexico’s OGP Plan Pledges New Proactive Disclosures

    The Mexican commitments made in its Open Government Partnership action plan promise a range of information disclosures about government services, release of databases and creation of online windows for commercial and corporate transactions, among other things. Mexico is one of the founding members of the partnership, officially kicked off in New York City Sept. 20. […]

  • 25 August 2011

    OGP Members Begin Work on National Action Plans

    Efforts by the eight conveners of the Open Government Partnership to draft their national “action plans” are slowly emerging, according to a FreedomInfo.org survey. However, in most countries the development of a plan does not appear to involve the wide public consultation called for in the “road map” for OGP aspirants to follow. In the […]

  • 24 June 2011

    Mexican FOI Amendment Stalled According to Activists

    Proposed amendments toMexico’s freedom of information law are “stuck,” according to activists, who believe that no legislative action is likely this year because of the 2012 elections . Congress has gone in the recess until September, after opposition from several key legislators and the Treasury ministry stalled progress on the bill, sources said. The bill […]

  • 24 June 2011

    Report Analyzes Access in 7 Latin American Countries

    An extensive new report examines access to information policies and practices in seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay. The report is titled “?Venciendo la Cultura del Secreto. Obstáculos a la implementación de políticas y normas de acceso a la información en la región?” (“Overcoming the culture of secrecy. Obstacles […]

  • 24 May 2011

    Mexican RTI Case Study Looks at Facilitating Factors

    A major study in Mexico has identified a variety of non-legal factors that facilitate a strong transparency system. The results were presented at The First Global Conference on Transparency Research held May 19-20 at Rutgers University-Newark, N.J. (See overall report in FreedomInfo.org.) Researchers from the Mexican Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) looked […]

  • 12 May 2011

    Opponents Delay Action on Mexican FOIA Amendments

    By Gabriela Ruiz  Visiting researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute  Reforms to the Mexican Federal Law of Transparency and Access to Information are stalled in the Congress because of objections from some lawmakers.  They are criticizing amendments that would give more power to the Federal […]

  • 7 April 2011

    Mexican Network Sets Strategy, Discusses Successes

    By Gabriela Ruiz Visiting  researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute  The México Infórmate FOI advocates network celebrated its second annual  meeting  in  Cancún March 17-18, trading success stories and planning strategy. The Mexico Infórmate network integrates members of  the  media, civil society, and local government ministries. […]

  • 7 April 2011

    Mexico Informate 2010 Yearbook, Advocacy in Action

     By Gabriela Ruiz Visiting researcher at The National Security Archive and FOIA Officer at the Chiapas Access to Information Institute On March 16, the Mexico Infórmate network unveiled its 2010 Yearbook, which showcases the activities celebrated during the second annual México Infórmate week (Mexico Get Informed) on Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2010. During the week, freedom […]

  • 1 April 2011

    Improvements to Mexican Transparency Law Passed

    A handful of potentially harmful proposals to change the Mexican freedom of information law were defeated March 30 as a key congressional committee approved a package of more positive reforms. Although approval by several other committees and the full lower body of Congress still lies ahead, and activists are concerned about the possible opposition from […]

  • 7 January 2011

    FOI NOTES: Video From Mexico; Aid Transparency

    Mexico: A new video documentary on FOI in Mexico has just been released, entitled ¿Qué Pasó con mi Dinero? / What happened to my Money? Spanish version, here: http://www.fundar.org.mx/indicepresupuestoabierto2010/index.html Version with English subtitles, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTZSt25if4E&feature=related United States:  The new U.S. effort to put out more information about aid flows is discussed on the Aid Watchers […]

  • 17 November 2010

    Mexican Access Institute Wins Budget Battle

    Open government advocates have something to celebrate in Mexico this week, as the legislature approved a budget over the weekend of Nov. 13-14 that avoids the severe cutbacks that threatened the independent federal institute that implements Mexico’s widely-praised access-to-information law.  The institute, known by its initials IFAI (Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información), faced a cutback of […]

  • 1 October 2010

    Proposed Budget Cuts Imperil FOI Law in Mexico

    Budget cuts proposed by the Mexican president would degrade the activities of the Federal Access to Information Institute (IFAI), according to comments made as supporters of the Mexican access to information law conducted dozens of workshops and other activities this week. News about developments in Mexico is available on the Mexico Informate website. The president’s […]

  • 17 February 2010

    The Oaxaca Group: Eight Years Later

    By Lilia Saúl Rodríguez (liliasaul@gmail.com) Translated by Jesse Franzblau (Disponible en español) www.twitter.com/liliasaul On October 11th, 2001, the Oaxaca Group (an alliance of academics and journalists) presented the Federal Access to Information Law (Ley Federal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información) to the Commission on Governance and Public Security in Mexico’s House of Representatives. In […]

  • 17 February 2010

    Ocho años del Grupo Oaxaca

    Por Lilia Saúl Rodríguez (liliasaul@gmail.com) www.twitter.com/liliasaul El 11 de octubre del 2001, el Grupo Oaxaca (que reunió a académicos y periodistas) presentaba la propuesta de Ley Federal de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información ante la Comisión de Gobernación y Seguridad Pública de la Cámara de Diputados. En las imágenes, disponibles ahora en el documental […]

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