Congress passes Criminal Code reform without the most restrictive articles
Brazil Impact | Positive Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On December 11, the Senate passed an “anti-crime package” through which the government seeks to strengthen the criminal code. During its discussion in Congress, the opposition succeeded in having some of its more iliberal articles removed, among them one that sought to free from punishment police officers […]
Government to ban and punish CSOs working on political issues
Nicaragua Impacto | Negativo Rating CIVICUS | Repressed The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nicaragua issued via its website in mid-December a norm that regulates Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and prohibits them from “intervening in matters related to partisan politics”. The regulation stipulates that the legal representative of an CSO must sign a document with the Department […]
A law requiring legal persons to provide information on their authorities, bylaws and final beneficiaries was enacted
Paraguay Impact | Positive Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On December 2, the Executive enacted a law creating an administrative registry of legal entities, and another regarding “final beneficiaries” in Paraguay. The measure compels companies, associations and foundations to provide information on their authorities, by-laws and assemblies held to elect authorities within 9 months following its […]
Senate seeks bill to create specialized prosecutor’s offices to monitor crimes committed against journalists and human rights defenders
Mexico Impact | Positive Probability | Medium Rating CIVICUS | Repressed On November 20, the Senate appointed to committees a bill from Senator Marco Antonio Gama Basarte (Partido Acción Nacional-Oposition) aimed at creating a specialized prosecutor’s office within the Attorney General’s Office to investigate crimes against journalists and human rights defenders. The initiative gives the […]
Bill to create a 30% gender quota in civil society entities advances in Deputies
Brazil Impact | Positive Probability | Medium Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On November 25, the Committee on Labour, Administration and Public Service of Deputies presented a draft opinion in favour of a bill for the establishment of a 30% gender quota in civil representation entities. The initiative, by deputy Soraya Santos (Liberal Party – allied […]
President Bolsonaro seeks to expand the legal use of firearms by the public force
Brazil Impact | Negative Probability | Medium Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On November 21, President Jair Bolsonaro sent to the Chamber of Deputies a bill that expands the grounds on which law enforcement officers can use firearms in security operations and be exempted from criminal responsibilities. These rules protect the Army, Navy, Air Force and […]
A package of bills to stiffen penalties for public order offences, backed by the Executive, continues advancing in Congress
Chile Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On December 9, the Senate’s Public Safety Committee began debating article by article the bill that tipifies as a crime the alteration of public peace through the execution of acts of violence, better known as the “anti-sacking” bill. This initiative, which has already been […]
Armed forces cleared of responsability for excessive use of force for over two weeks
Bolivia Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Negative On November 15, Bolivia’s interim president, Jeanine Áñez, passed a decree clearing military personnel of criminal responsibility for having used excessive force when “acting in legitimate defense or a state of necessity”. Also, the law legitimized the participation of the armed forces in the re-establishment of public […]
A bill on lobbying and special interests advances in the Assembly
Costa Rica Impact | Positive Probability | Medium Rating CIVICUS | Open On 17 November, the Legislative Assembly Legal Affairs Committee issued a positive report on a bill on lobbying and the management of interests in public administration. The activities regulated include the drafting and approval of administrative acts and laws, as well as the […]
Congress creates committee to investigate CICIG
Guatemala Impact | Negative On September 25, Congress authorized the creation of a committee to investigate the actions of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) between 2007-2019, as well as those of public officials presumed to have engaged in unlawful acts in collaboration with CICIG. The initiative was backed by the ruling party […]