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Transparency and Accountability in Legislative and Governmental Institutions Corporate Governance Political Finance Access to Information Links to Other Resources 
Interview with Ernesto Villanueva, president of the Steering Committee of Libertad de Información-México A.C., and participant in the World Movement World Movement Participants Database - Search for more information about groups working on transparency and accountability. |
Interview with Ernesto Villanueva, president of the Steering Committee of Libertad de Información-México A.C., and participant in the World Movement
Q. Please tell us about your organization Libertad de Información-México A.C. (LIMAC). What is its mission, and how does it carry out its work?
A. LIMAC promotes public and social participation related to the issues of freedom of information. LIMCA is an umbrella organization around the country with representatives in 10 states out of 31 states. We seek to create a basic consensus among media leaders, businessmen and women, social activists, and legislators, to promote state freedom of information laws. LIMAC has been involved in elaborating the drafts, advising state legislators, and explaining to social groups what is meant by "freedom of information" and why it is important for everybody, etc.
Q. How do you define the concept of freedom of access to public information? What is its importance for democracy? How does it enhance citizens' political participation?
A. We understand freedom of information to mean that people have access to public entities. This right is a basic cornerstone for democracy because it gives a power to ordinary people, makes public servants more accountable, and, most important, helps to improve the quality of peoples' lives. Information is required to make better decisions.
Q. How have you lobbied legislators to adopt "access to public information" laws in Mexico and how have you monitored their implementation?
A. The basic strategy is to put freedom of information on the political agenda with the support of media owners, journalists, and businessmen and women. We organize meetings to explain the advantages to them of a freedom of information law. One problem is lack of knowledge, and this is why it is very important to spread knowledge in society through workshops, newspapers, conferences, and seminars. In addition, LIMAC has a special program to monitor the implementation of the laws by asking for public information and reviewing the public entities' Web sites to verify that they are implementing them. We call a press conference every three or four months to disseminate the results of our monitoring. The use of the media to disseminate information helps to strengthen the implementation of the laws.
Q. What are the major challenges to promoting freedom of access to public information? Based on your knowledge and experience, what recommendations can you provide for meeting those challenges?
A. A main challenge is a lack of education particularly about the possible impact of freedom of information laws on ordinary citizens. For that reason, we have proposed, and the legislators have adopted, including a section of the state laws focusing on education. Through education in elementary schools, secondary schools, and universities, we seek to build a culture of transparency and openness.
Another challenge is to promote the idea of freedom of information to politicians and to explain why a freedom of information law can serve as a political tool and can be good for their political careers. Of course, it's not easy to persuade them of this, but we have to emphasize this point.
A third challenge is to promote the use of the laws in those states that have adopted them. This is a matter of education, too. LIMAC has been raising awareness of the importance of education and conducting educational projects.
Q. You will be co-organizing a workshop on "Accessing Public Information: Civil Society Strategies for Ensuring Transparency" during the World Movement's Third Assembly in Durban, South Africa, in February 2004. What will be the focus of the workshop?
A. The most important point is to explain to people the real meaning of this right by providing examples, through which they can see the difference between their political participation with a freedom of information law and without one. It is necessary to share with many emerging democracies the Mexican experience in this area. We have to create a group to discuss and exchange points of view, experiences, etc. The workshop at the Assembly will be an excellent opportunity for building a network to share ideas and information and to develop and organize projects collaboratively. The network could, for example, develop a regional, or even a worldwide, monitoring project and a lobbying manual with basic questions and answers to deepen citizens' basic knowledge of political activities within their communities and countries.
Q. Thank you very much.
About "What's Being Done On . . . "
For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9890.
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