{"id":6803,"date":"2020-11-21T00:29:56","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T00:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/?p=6803"},"modified":"2020-11-23T22:22:53","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T22:22:53","slug":"a-proposed-reform-to-the-access-to-public-information-law-advances-in-congress-threatening-to-weaken-the-independence-of-the-body-that-supervises-its-implementation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/2020\/11\/21\/a-proposed-reform-to-the-access-to-public-information-law-advances-in-congress-threatening-to-weaken-the-independence-of-the-body-that-supervises-its-implementation\/","title":{"rendered":"A proposed reform to the Access to Public Information Law advances in Congress threatening to weaken the independence of the body that supervises its implementation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6803\" class=\"elementor elementor-6803\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c36711a pos-absolute elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section\" data-id=\"5c36711a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34e6a625 pos-child elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"34e6a625\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23cd54fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"23cd54fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guatemala.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guatemala.png 512w, https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guatemala-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guatemala-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guatemala-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5a89f3 elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"a5a89f3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48ad4b73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48ad4b73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><span style=\"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;background-color:#00ffff;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;\"><\/span>Guatemala<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f13821e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section\" data-id=\"5f13821e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-601518f6 d-none elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"601518f6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d498e28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d498e28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Impact<\/b> | Negative<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a29ac8c d-none elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"a29ac8c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7e3480 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f7e3480\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Probabilty<\/b> | Medium<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-febcb35 d-none elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"febcb35\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e518ee9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e518ee9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><b>Civicus Rating<\/b> | Obstructed<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e81e1cf elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"6e81e1cf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74aa4fc5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section\" data-id=\"74aa4fc5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6721f2b0 d-none-2 elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"6721f2b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap  elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a5e6a13 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a5e6a13\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6fa7544 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6fa7544\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On November 12, the Transparency Committee <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/alertas.directoriolegislativo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dictamen-favorable-5792-GUA.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommended<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the Plenary of Congress the approval of an initiative to create an autonomous body specializing in the protection of the right of access to information linked to Congress. This recommendation is seen as the first step on the legislative path to creating such a body. Although the bill is ready to be debated by legislators, it is unlikely this will happen before sometime next year.<\/span>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative in question was presented in June by legislator Jos\u00e9 Alejandro De Le\u00f3n Maldonado (Podemos), and aims to create a National Office of Access to Public Information modelled on that of the Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS). However, according to the wording that is being pushed by De Le\u00f3n Maldonado this body\u00b4s key figures would be appointed by Congress, which has drawn criticism from various officials and civil society organizations because of how it could weaken institutional independence. According to the Association of Journalists of Guatemala (APG, in Spanish), &#8220;the creation of this new office has a twofold objective: to restrict access to public information and to use data as political booty&#8221;.&nbsp; For his part, Vice President Guillermo Castillo also spoke out against the initiative, arguing that &#8220;none of the three branches of government should make decisions about its functioning&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the promoters of the bill expressed their intention to achieve the necessary consensus to approve the law as soon as possible, the issues that currently make up the legislative agenda of the plenary session have created conflict and led to deadlock. As such, it is not expected this article will be debated this year but rather in the course of 2021.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5035e85f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section\" data-id=\"5035e85f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-785a746a elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"785a746a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guatemala Impact | Negative Probabilty | Medium Civicus Rating | Obstructed On November 12, the Transparency Committee recommended to the Plenary of Congress the approval of an initiative to create an autonomous body specializing in the protection of the right of access to information linked to Congress. This recommendation is seen as the first step [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[174],"tags":[67],"class_list":["post-6803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-12-en","tag-access-to-public-information"],"wps_subtitle":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6803"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6829,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6803\/revisions\/6829"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civicspaceguardian.directoriolegislativo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}