Publication: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Access to Information
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2008-07
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2008-07
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Providing citizens with open access to information is a cornerstone of good governance. Transparency is essential to allow citizens and markets to hold institutions accountable for their policies and performance, to foster trust in government and minimize corruption. In the Latin America and the Caribbean region several countries have adopted Freedom of Information laws and a few more are currently considering them. This movement provides a unique opportunity to strengthen accountability relationships in the region. The World Bank is providing ongoing support to Access to Information (ATI) implementation through different instruments. In the Dominican Republic legislation was adopted and draft legislation to establish a regulatory body has been submitted to Congress. Finally, with Bank support for institutional development, the Honduran Congress adopted ATI legislation in late 2006 and appointed Access to Information Commissioners in 2007. As new oversight institutions are created and ATI legislation gets passed in America and Caribbean (LAC) it will be crucial for the Bank to provide assistance and build the capacity of the new Commissions. The importance of the Commissions and of ATI to the larger goals of the governance and anti-corruption agenda reinforce the need for the Bank to remain actively engaged with this community and continue its convening and knowledge brokering role.
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“Bellver, Ana; Mendiburu, Marcos; Poli, Maria. 2008. Strengthening Transparency and Accountability through Access to Information. en breve; No. 131. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/10277 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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