Intelligence agencies will no longer be able to participate in criminal investigations
Argentina Impact | Positive Civicus Rating | Narrowed While a case is advancing for alleged illegal espionage maneuvers during the government of former President Mauricio Macri, the Senate endorsed a decree in March that modifies Law 25.520 on National Intelligence by prohibiting cooperation between intelligence agencies and the criminal justice system, the performance of repressive […]
Constitutional Court suspends the progressive use of force in meetings and protests
Ecuador Impact | Positive Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On June 24, the Constitutional Court prompted a lawsuit filed by civil society organizations and human rights defenders against a regulation that allows the military to the progressive use of force. In their presentation, the plaintiff institutions indicated that the norm approved by a ministerial agreement violates the Constitution […]
Amid a climate of political tension, Congress will monitor judicial wiretapping
Argentina Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On June 30, the presidents of both Houses of Congress signed a joint resolution, designating the Bicameral Committee for the Supervision of Intelligence Agencies and Activities responsible for following up on activities carried out by the Directorate for Criminal Justice Assistance Complexes, a body under the jurisdiction of […]
Million-dollar fines and prison terms for those who fail to comply with the quarantine
Chile Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed After the extension until September of the State of Emergency, which was issued by the government to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, Congress amended the Penal Code in order to sanction non-observance of isolation and other preventive sanitary measures. The initiative aims to achieve full compliance with […]
Reform to security system criminalizing social protest already in force
Uruguay Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Open On July 14, after Congress gave it final approval, President Luis Lacalle Pou enacted the law that reforms the security and justice system, among other things. The law, which consists of 476 articles and 11 sections, includes the expansion of the scope of the principle of legitimate police defense […]
Conflict between the government and the Assembly continues over quarantine regulation
El Salvador Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed In the coming days, the Supreme Court should rule on the appeal presented by the government of President Nayib Bukele to repeal the law protecting the rights of individuals during the State of Emergency. The rule establishes guidelines for public authorities during quarantine. Meanwhile, the social isolation measures dictated by President Nayib […]
Bill to control the circulation of viral Internet content advances
Brazil Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On June 30, the Senate gave preliminary approval to a draft bill on freedom, responsibility and transparency on the Internet. The initiative aims to limit the circulation of fake news in the digital environment and was questioned by different civil society organizations that warn that its […]
USMCA and its collateral effects for freedom of expression
Mexico Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Repressed Between June 29 and 30 the Mexican Congress passed a set of reforms to the Federal Copyright Law and the Federal Penal Code that were required as a condition for the entry into force of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on July 1. Although the changes aim […]
New Penal Code implies risks for freedom of expression on the internet
Honduras Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Repressed On June 25, a controversial reform of the Penal Code passed in 2019 finally came into force, after having been postponed twice. The reform incorporates the crimes of slander and injury, and aggravates the penalties when these actions “are carried out via print, television, radio, internet, information […]
The government regulated the progressive use of force in meetings and demonstrations
Ecuador Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On May 29, the Ministry of Defence published a regulation that allows the progressive use of force by members of the Armed Forces in the face of meetings, demonstrations and disturbances that lead to “situations of serious internal commotion.” The protocol contemplates different levels of action in situations of […]