ELLA Guide: The Latin American Approach to Transparency and Access to Information
ELLA is the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America programme
Abstract
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 experience, while shedding light on the contextual factors that enabled the design and adoption of transparency policies and practices, and on their lessons learned. The Latin American journey in implementing these transparency initiatives could be useful for policymakers, academics, civil society organisations (CSOs) and donors from other regions that are promoting improved transparency and access to information in their own countries.
Key Lessons:
•Court rulings at the regional and national level upholding the right to information and transparency can build the legal foundation for making this right a reality, even in the absence of a formal FOIA.
•Latin American experience shows that enacting FOIAs is a first step in fulfilling the right to information. Other elements, such as capacity building for public officials and citizens and adequate enforcement mechanisms, are also needed to ensure the effective realisation of this right.
•The right to information can be an effective tool for civil society to undertake social audits of government performance, successfully advocate for concrete improvements in public policies and ensure the realisation of other human rights.
Citation
Oropeza, J. ELLA Guide: The Latin American Approach to Transparency and Access to Information. ELLA, Practical Action Consulting, Lima, Peru (2012) 9 pp.