ParlAmericas, the Transparency and Access to Information Network (RTA), the European Union programme EUROsociAL+ and the Organization of American States (OAS) held the “Model Inter-American Law 2.0 on Access to Public Information for the parliaments of the Americas and the Caribbean” webinar.
In this context of a pandemic, transparency and access to information are of great importance when it comes to creating bridges between the State and citizens in order to face these challenges by creating a greater culture of accountability and citizen participation. These issues are especially significant in the parliamentary sphere due to their proximity to the problems and needs of citizens, which also demand a greater role in decision-making and in the construction of their own future.
After the recent approval of the Model Inter-American Law 2.0 on Access to Public Information by the Annual Assembly in October 2020, its dissemination is therefore necessary to share the nature and scope of the regulations with parliamentary representatives and staff from the legislative powers of the Americas, international specialists and guarantor bodies and to create new spaces for cooperation.
To contribute to this, the Parliaments of the Americas and the Caribbean, ParlAmericas (1), the Transparency and Access to Information Network (RTA), the European Union EUROsociAL+ programme and the Organization of American States (OAS) held a webinar under the title “Model Inter-American Law 2.0 on Access to Public Information”.
The event included a presentation of the Model Inter-American Law 2.0 on Access to Public Information, approved in 2020 by the OAS General Assembly, which is intended to serve as a hemispheric benchmark to continue moving forward with the strengthening of transparency and access to information standards for the benefit of the region’s people. The Reflections on national experiences panel was also introduced, which was moderated by the EUROsociAL+ consultant and expert María José Méndez, which included the participation of Caroline Maynard, the Canadian Commissioner for Information, Gloria de la Fuente, President of the Council for Transparency of Chile and Senator Ranard Henfield of The Bahamas. The panel fostered the exchange of good legislative practices for transparency and access to information, aspects that are part of the Legislative Transparency Toolbox, developed by ParlAmericas, EUROsociAL+ and the RTA.
Regarding this Toolbox, Felice Zaccheo, head of the Unit for Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and regional programmes of the European Commission’s DG International Partnerships, said that it contains numerous contributions from the legislatures of Europe, among them the European Parliament, the Estonian Parliament, the United Kingdom, Georgia, Italy, Spain, France and Norway, as well as “valuable contributions from the legislatures of Latin America and other regions of the world, making it a true global effort in terms of knowledge management and exchange of good practices.”
Mexican Senator Bertha Alicia Caraveo Camarena, vice president of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network for North America, highlighted that “for ParlAmericas, transparency and access to information are central pillars of an open parliament, which is why these issues are at the centre of our institutional agenda. Offering this type of space for informed dialogue to parliamentarians from the Americas and the Caribbean, in which they can become familiar with the Model Law and strengthen ties of collaboration with the guarantor bodies on issues of access to information is essential”.
Gabriel Delpiazzo Antón, president of the RTA, said that “with more transparent parliaments greater citizen participation is achieved and confidence is restored in achieving a more democratic society.”
Deputy Ana Lucía Delgado from Costa Rica, the vice-president of the Open Parliament Network of ParlAmericas for Central America added that “the adoption or updating of laws on access to public information is an urgent task as it responds to our commitments to transparency and openness. Knowing first-hand the proposals and standards developed by the OAS is an excellent opportunity for legislators of the Americas and the Caribbean to coordinate our work on these issues.”
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(1) ParlAmericas is an institution that promotes parliamentary diplomacy in the inter-American system. Comprising 35 national legislatures from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, ParlAmericas promotes cooperative political dialogue, facilitates the exchange of good legislative practices and develops resources specially designed to support parliamentarians in the performance of their functions. The ParlAmericas International Secretariat is based in Ottawa, Canada. For more information, visit http://www.parlamericas.org or contact us at info@parlamericas.org.
