President orders police and soldiers to “toughen up on people in the street”
El Salvador Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed The Supreme Court of Justice asked the Executive and Legislative branches to “urgently regulate and clarify measures limiting physical freedom” following calls to resolve the situation of hundreds of detainees held by police over violating the quarantine. On 14 March, the Legislative Assembly passed a law temporarily restricting the […]
Supreme Court stops government from ignoring public information requests
Brazil Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On March 23, President Jair Bolsonaro issued a provisional measure putting on hold the country’s access to public information law in removing deadlines for responding to information requests that do not relate to the health crisis. However, three days after taking effect the Federal Supreme Court (STF), following an appeal […]
Government authorizes armed forces to enforce quarantine compliance
Bolivia Rating CIVICUS | Obstructed On March 25, by decree, interim President Jeanine Añez authorized the armed forces and police to use coercive means if necessary to preserve public order. Government Minister Arturo Murillo said he had ordered the security forces to carry out “cyber-patrols”, i.e. monitor and control social networks and individuals spreading disinformation […]
Moreno decrees state of emergency, gives go-ahead for digital tracking of citizens
Ecuador Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On March 17, President Lenin Moreno authorized public authorities to use satellite and mobile phone platforms to trace the whereabouts of individuals not complying with the quarantine. It is among the measures being taken under the declared ‘state of emergency for public calamity’, in effect for 60 days. Two days […]
Government seeking to curb freedom of expression amid health crisis
Honduras Rating CIVICUS | Repressed In a contentious move, March 15 saw President Juan Orlando Hernández issue a decree weakening constitutional guarantees on personal freedom, movement, association and assembly, the prohibition of entering a person’s home without their consent or court order, respect for private property, as well as on freedom of thought. No sooner […]
Bill to extend reach of access to information law gains ground
Chile Impact | Positive Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On March 3, the Chamber of Deputies approved a reform of the Law on Access to Public Information that would oblige Congress, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Constitutional Court, the Electoral Service and the Central Bank to “abide by the principle of transparency in […]
Deputies promote bill to prevent judicial persecution of journalists
Mexico Impact | Positive Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Repressed On February 25, 19 legislators from across 8 political blocs presented a bill to prevent the judicial system from being used to censor journalists. The proposal includes rules to prevent lawsuits against journalists aimed at limiting freedom of expression and mechanisms to avoid requests […]
The Executive branch fails in bid to exploit personal information
Costa Rica Impact | Negative Rating CIVICUS | Open On February 17, the Executive branch issued a decree drafted in October 2019 authorizing the government to use confidential personal information for the purpose of researching and evaluating public policies. Following criticism from across the political spectrum and charges of unconstitutionality, President Carlos Alvarado reversed the […]
Government bill seeks journalistic self-censorship over corruption accused
Argentina Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed The ruling party senator Eugenia Catalfamo has proposed scrapping preventive detentions of persons accused of corruption prior to judicial sentencing in cases where, as she sees it, the media have already portrayed them as guilty. The bill’s author maintains that preventive detentions are used […]
Bill to expand role of the Armed Forces in internal security moves forward
Chile Impact | Negative Probability | High Rating CIVICUS | Narrowed On March 8, the Chamber of Deputies passed in committee a constitutional reform being driven by the Government to grant the President increased powers to deploy the Armed Forces in cases where critical infrastructure is seen to be at risk, including water, gas and […]