On May 31, the Open Argentina Forum took place in the City of Mendoza. It is a space for debate that takes place annually since 2016 and proposes the exchange of ideas and experiences around the theme of open government. In the 2018 edition, FUNDEPS participated in a panel on sustainable development, open government and natural resources.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Argentina Abierta was conceived as a space that brings together students, journalists, public officials, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations and anyone willing to participate. It was designed to exchange initiatives that promote the creation of modern, inclusive and sustainable public policies.
The goal is for government teams and citizens to share experiences, develop their ideas and knowledge, listen to opinions and discuss transparency, accountability, new technologies, public innovation and open data.
It is a national forum to discuss open government policies that encourage issues of transparency in the public sector, citizen participation and collaboration in modernization policies. On May 31, the third edition was held. Last year was made in Córdoba and this year was held in Mendoza. This last province, together with Córdoba and Buenos Aires, has been at the forefront of the implementation of policies with these characteristics.
Going around the event a bit …
In the 2018 edition, Argentina Abierta lasted only one day, unlike previous years when the event was longer. However, that time was enough to include panels of the most diverse and comprehensive in terms of the thematic axes of open government: transparency, participation and collaboration.
There was discussion about access to public information and publication of data, open academy and opening in the legislative and judicial powers. Likewise, the event counted with the presence of conversations regarding the application of open government policies at the subnational level and for this were present representatives of the governments of the City of Mendoza, City of Godoy Cruz, City of Córdoba, City of Buenos Aires , Province of Mendoza, Province of Córdoba, Province of Buenos Aires, Province of Santa Fe; among other relevant actors.
Likewise, it is necessary to highlight the presence of civil society organizations, who not only supported the concretion and realization of the event (Nuestra Mendoza and CLADH), but also actively participated in the panels and discussions with public officials. This was the case of FUNDEPS, who was participating in a panel specifically related to issues of open government, sustainable development and natural resources. Said panel was also composed of representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Nation.
Part of the innovation proposed by this forum is given by the incorporation of new dynamics for the debate. Particularly, and as regards the issues of open government, innovation and e-government, the LABS are positioned as an alternative that allows to discuss and reach solutions at the moment. During this edition of Argentina Abierta, labs were held to discuss budget issues, citizen participation, security and data.
What the Forum left us …
In this event 9 provinces, 6 countries and more than 50 organizations and institutions participated. 12 panels were carried out, 24 hall talks and more than 900 people were present. During that day, the community of people dedicated to open government debated and shared experiences to improve public management, make it more transparent and close to citizens. From FUNDEPS we appreciate the fact that we have been able to take part and consider the discussions on these issues to be substantial.
Author / contact
Agustina Palencia – agustinapalencia@fundeps.org
We participate in Argentina Abierta
On May 31, the Open Argentina Forum took place in the City of Mendoza. It is a space for debate that takes place annually since 2016 and proposes the exchange of ideas and experiences around the theme of open government. In the 2018 edition, FUNDEPS participated in a panel on sustainable development, open government and natural resources.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Argentina Abierta was conceived as a space that brings together students, journalists, public officials, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations and anyone willing to participate. It was designed to exchange initiatives that promote the creation of modern, inclusive and sustainable public policies.
The goal is for government teams and citizens to share experiences, develop their ideas and knowledge, listen to opinions and discuss transparency, accountability, new technologies, public innovation and open data.
It is a national forum to discuss open government policies that encourage issues of transparency in the public sector, citizen participation and collaboration in modernization policies. On May 31, the third edition was held. Last year was made in Córdoba and this year was held in Mendoza. This last province, together with Córdoba and Buenos Aires, has been at the forefront of the implementation of policies with these characteristics.
Going around the event a bit …
In the 2018 edition, Argentina Abierta lasted only one day, unlike previous years when the event was longer. However, that time was enough to include panels of the most diverse and comprehensive in terms of the thematic axes of open government: transparency, participation and collaboration.
There was discussion about access to public information and publication of data, open academy and opening in the legislative and judicial powers. Likewise, the event counted with the presence of conversations regarding the application of open government policies at the subnational level and for this were present representatives of the governments of the City of Mendoza, City of Godoy Cruz, City of Córdoba, City of Buenos Aires , Province of Mendoza, Province of Córdoba, Province of Buenos Aires, Province of Santa Fe; among other relevant actors.
Likewise, it is necessary to highlight the presence of civil society organizations, who not only supported the concretion and realization of the event (Nuestra Mendoza and CLADH), but also actively participated in the panels and discussions with public officials. This was the case of FUNDEPS, who was participating in a panel specifically related to issues of open government, sustainable development and natural resources. Said panel was also composed of representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Mining of the Nation.
Part of the innovation proposed by this forum is given by the incorporation of new dynamics for the debate. Particularly, and as regards the issues of open government, innovation and e-government, the LABS are positioned as an alternative that allows to discuss and reach solutions at the moment. During this edition of Argentina Abierta, labs were held to discuss budget issues, citizen participation, security and data.
What the Forum left us …
In this event 9 provinces, 6 countries and more than 50 organizations and institutions participated. 12 panels were carried out, 24 hall talks and more than 900 people were present. During that day, the community of people dedicated to open government debated and shared experiences to improve public management, make it more transparent and close to citizens. From FUNDEPS we appreciate the fact that we have been able to take part and consider the discussions on these issues to be substantial.
Author / contact
Agustina Palencia – agustinapalencia@fundeps.org
The Ministry of Health of the Nation promotes the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On April 24, a new meeting of the National Commission for the Coordination of Tobacco Control took place. The event was attended by representatives of about 40 organizations that include government agencies, NGOs, scientific societies, among others.
Among the conclusions of this first event, the following stand out:
For several years, several monitoring bodies of international human rights treaties have been recommending that the Argentine State ratify this treaty. Indeed, the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Committee for the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) have emphasized that for the adequate protection of the right to health in general and in particular of populations such as women, children and girls, Argentina should ratify the FCTC.
Together with other civil society organizations, such as FIC Argentina, we present shadow reports to these human rights committees. As examples, the CESCR recommended “the State party to ratify and implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control”. For its part, CEDAW expressed concern about the “high tobacco consumption among girls compared to boys”. By virtue of this, It recommended to Argentina “ratify the Framework Agreement of the World Health Organization for Tobacco Control”.
As part of this action plan, a Declaration was sent from FUNDEPS, the creation of an executive committee and the holding of periodic meetings is foreseen. In this sense it is valid to clarify that Senator Silvina García Larraburu presented a bill before the Congress that seeks to ratify the Convention.
Contact
Agustina Mozzoni, <agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org>
Gender Violence and Public Communication Policies in Argentina: Advances and Setbacks until 2017
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
At the beginning of 2016, from the Foundation for the Development of Sustainable Policies and the Civil Association Communication for Equality, a report called “Violence against women and public communication policies” was produced, which gives an account of the state of public policies on communication and gender in Argentina and the state bodies that, until the end of 2015, were in charge of implementing them. That report was based on an extensive investigation that gathered data through formal requests, formulated in the exercise of the right to access information; complaints to the corresponding bodies in cases of media and symbolic violence and interviews with members of these bodies and civil society organizations.
In 2018, we made a report on the application of such policies from the assumption of the current national government. In it, the main changes evidenced in the last two years are analyzed, based on the information obtained through new requests for information formulated before the corresponding bodies during the year 2017 and through interviews and information search through the official channels of each dependency.
The bodies studied are: ENACOM, Public Defender, INAM, INADI, Observatory of Discrimination in Radio and TV, Office of Monitoring of Publication of Notices of Sexual Commerce.
The measures and public policies implemented by these organizations had modifications. Although some that can be considered advances, many others weaken the achievements made in the protection of the audiences, mainly of the vulnerable sectors; both from a gender perspective and from the right to communication as a human right.
The analysis carried out aims to account for the transformations in the field of communication, specifically in relation to gender issues, during the last two years and since the change in government management in December 2015. In line with the changes that followed public communication policies from then on, the specific areas linked to gender also underwent transformations that, although not yet completely defined, imply for several of the agencies a brake on the programs that were carried out and, after two years after the start of the new administration, it is not clear yet what will be the future direction of the public communication and gender policies that were developed in Argentina as of 2010.
Main conclusions
More information
Contacto
Virginia Pedraza – vir.pedraza@fundeps.org
Sandra Chaher – sandrachaher@comunicarigualdad.com.ar
BID Invest calls public consultation for a new Policy on Access to Public Information
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
BID Invest (previously called the Inter-American Investment Corporation) is the arm of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that is responsible for financing and advising companies and sustainable projects of the private sector that come from and are developed in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It has a portfolio of US $ 11,200 million in assets under management and 330 clients in 23 countries.
Currently, BID Invest is updating one of its operational policies. To this end, a draft of the new Access to Information Policy has been prepared, which will replace its current Information Availability Policy (in force since 2005) in 2019. It is around this draft (which is available in the BID Invest website) that the public consultation will be held, open to all international civil society. The draft was opened for consultation on May 23 and will receive comments for a period of 120 days.
In turn, the consultation will include virtual and face-to-face dialogues. The virtual consultation will be available through the BID Invest website, and face-to-face consultations will be carried out through meetings (whose dates are yet to be confirmed) in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Washington DC, where the body has its headquarters.
From FUNDEPS we will participate in this process of public consultation, reviewing the draft and sending comments to the Bank, in order to ensure that this new policy is framed in a true commitment to transparency in the exercise of its activities and to strengthen its governance and responsibility.
More information
Author
Agustina Palencia
Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org
Public hearing: “Alternative to National Route N ° 38: Costa Azul Bridge – La Cumbre – Costa Azul Section – Cosquín”.
We present a document that addresses the legal and socio-environmental foundations related to the realization of the mountain motorway. Motivated by the great concern in the design, promotion and execution of public policies related to the protection of the right to a healthy and balanced environment, commenting on the legality and convenience of the project “Alternative to National Route N ° 38: Costa Azul Bridge- The Summit – Costa Azul Section – Cosquín “.
Comments on the draft guidelines for the consultation phase of the MICI
The comments presented here aim to highlight positive aspects and improve, with respect to the guidelines for the Consultation Phase.
The MICI seeks to strengthen its institutional framework
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”
The Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI) is the entity in charge of receiving complaints regarding any project financed by the IDB Group. In this sense, any group of two or more people that is affected by a project financed by these institutions, can go to the mechanism in search of a solution. It should be noted that the complaints submitted should be about non-compliance with the bank’s operational policies and not about other national and / or international regulations.
In order to carry out its task, the ICIM has two functions or phases: (a) Verification of the Observance and (b) Consultation. The complainant may choose to use one or both functions. Verification of the Observance is carried out by the MICI exclusively and it is an investigation regarding the violation of any of the bank’s operational policies. The Consultation involves both those who file the complaint and the party that has taken the loan. This last function is a process similar to mediation and its objective is to achieve consensus among the parties involved to arrive at a solution.
On this second phase, the MICI elaborated a document for internal use that aims to improve the complaint process for those who decide to use this function of the mechanism. In this regard, it should be mentioned that this function must specifically address the needs of the parties involved and the context of the complaint. In these new guidelines, special attention was paid to the affected communities that file the complaint, as well as to the risks and dangers in which they may be involved. This is particularly important since the last few years have made it clear that human rights defenders live in a situation of constant danger.
In this sense, the presentation of a complaint before the ICIM can turn into something that can put at risk the life and / or safety of those who come to the mechanism. The new guidelines try to address this issue by arguing that the ICIM must act in the face of power imbalances, and at the same time ensure that the mediation process is appropriate to the needs of the parties. Within this logic, the guidelines propose to approach the consultation phase attending to six (6) very important principles: (a) the Co-Design of the processes, (b) the Action without Damage, (c) the Good Faith, (d) ) Voluntariness, (e) Sustainability and (f) Attention to Symmetries.
It follows from the latter that the aim of delineating these rules is to improve considerably the complaint process, while strengthening the general policy of the ICIM. We consider that this is a fundamental step in the adoption of better standards that guarantee the rendering of accounts of the financial institutions and the access to an effective remedy by the affected communities. Likewise, we applaud the adoption of these guidelines in consultation with civil society organizations. That made it clear that the MICI is willing to receive feedback from those who position themselves as users of the mechanism and who have been able to glimpse the shortcomings that the processes may have.
More information
Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org
Agustina Palencia – agustinapalencia@fundeps.org
Gender violence and public communication policies in Argentina: advances and setbacks until 2017
Together with the Civil Association Communication for Equality we present a report on the functioning of public policies on gender and communication, from the assumption of the current national government.
Civil society met in the C20
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On the occasion of the Argentine presidency of the G20 -which brings together the governments of the 20 largest economies in the world-, the meeting of the civil society group, called C20, took place on April 4 and 5 in Buenos Aires. It is organized into 8 working groups that address the following agendas: anti-corruption; architecture of the international financial system; education, employment and inclusion; environment, climate and energy; gender; global local; global health; and investment and infrastructure.
Within the working group of investment and infrastructure, the discussion was oriented to elaborate recommendations for the G20 governments, especially for the Argentine government for being leading the forum during 2018. Thus, issues concerning responsible investments were debated, with a focus in the impact of business activity on human rights, and different aspects related to infrastructure projects -financial, environmental, accountability, participation, among others-. These discussions began in March, through the online forum of the working group, and will continue in the same way for the elaboration of the conclusions as a group.
Likewise, during the second day, we participated in a meeting with Matías Mondino, Infrastructure Director of the Ministry of Finance and representative before the G20 infrastructure group. During the meeting, in addition to knowing about the government’s agenda for its G20 presidency on investments, the concerns of the organizations present in this regard were expressed about investments in infrastructure and public-private partnerships.
The result of the discussions held during the two days, will be reflected in a working document to be presented at the C20 summit to be held on August 6 and 7 in Buenos Aires. It is expected that the recommendations made by civil society will be taken by governments and reflected within the commitments of the G20. The purpose of the C20 process is to promote economic and financial policies that are attentive to the duties of the states in the area of human rights, including in their agenda transparency and accountability.
More information
Contact
Gonzalo Roza – gon.roza@fundeps.org
Carolina Tamagnini – carotamagnini@fundeps.org
More than 15 Latin American countries requested presidents measures to protect health
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Corruption, obstacles to democratic governance, lack of transparency, and difficulties in implementing public social policies are all factors that negatively impact the health systems of the region and conspire against the development of the communities of the Americas. The four main noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) are the main cause of disease, disability and preventable death in the world in general and in the region of the Americas in particular. They are responsible for 70% of deaths.
The costs of these diseases constitute a significant burden for health budgets and national economies. These diseases reduce economic productivity, overload health systems and promote individual and family poverty. It is not possible to build a sustainable and functional economy if disability and premature deaths due to NCDs remain so high and costly for governments.
That is why civil society organizations in the region, based in the Healthy Latin American Coalition (CLAS), asked presidents present at the Summit to implement concrete measures to protect the health of the population without the interference of the industry. These measures include fiscal policies that increase the price of unhealthy products (cigarettes, sugary drinks, among others) to discourage consumption; the implementation of front labeling in foods that provide clear and useful information to consumers, among others. In parallel, CLAS asks presidents to make an appointment with health and attend the UN High Level Meeting on NCD on September 27, 2018 in New York City.
About CLAS
It is an alliance of more than 250 non-governmental organizations in Latin America whose purpose is to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this region. Its members include medical societies, patient organizations, health NGOs, consumer NGOs, religious and academic entities. Founded in March 2011, it is aimed at reducing inequality, promoting human rights, and promoting effective policies with an impact on the risk factors and determinants of NCD. Its objective is to strengthen the action of civil society to prevent and control NCDs in the region through political advocacy, education, awareness and research, at the national and regional levels, so that effective policies are implemented, in line with the objectives of the United Nations (UN) and PAHO-WHO. It is an initiative of the Inter-American Heart Foundation.
Contact
Agustina Mozzoni, agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org
We present a report on NCDs to the Committee on the Rights of the Child
Together with FIC Argentina, the O’Neill Institute and the Chair of Food Sovereignty of the Nutrition School of the UBA, we present a report in which we warn the situation of chronic diseases in Argentina focusing on the particular situation of children and adolescents ; At the same time, we suggest to the State the adoption of some measures to reduce the consumption of tobacco products and unhealthy foods.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
When a country ratifies an international human rights treaty, it undertakes to comply with the obligations established in it. Many of these treaties establish mechanisms so that the rendering of accounts on the level of compliance with these obligations is open to the participation of civil society. In this case, Argentina’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child will be reviewed before the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is the body of independent experts that supervises its application.
Measures such as, the limitation of advertising directed to boys and girls, the adoption of a simpler and more understandable nutrition labeling, the raising of taxes, the ratification by the Argentine State of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the establishment of school kiosks healthy
The information presented and the recommendations made are intended to ensure that between the next May 14 and June 1 the 78th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child will be held, where the final evaluation will be made regarding the degree of compliance with the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Argentine state. The final observations that the Committee issues will be tools to require the Argentine State to comply with human rights standards.
Link to the full report: bit.ly/InformeENTs
Contacto:
Agustina Mozzoni – agustinamozzoni@fundeps.org
Juan Carballo – juanmcarballo@fundeps.org
Virtual course defense of the territory: Tools of the framework of international law and the rules of the IFIS
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
In recent years, the actors that finance extractive and infrastructure projects in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region have diversified, resulting in a more complex financial framework. In this sense, a large part of the projects present in the region are co-financed by different actors. In many cases a percentage of the total financing of the projects may come from private financial institutions, development banks, regional or state banks.
In LAC, in addition to traditional banking (World Bank Group, Inter-American Development Bank) the presence of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the Bank of Economic and Social Development of Brazil (BNDES) have had an important presence. However, during the past decade, Chinese banks have gained importance. During 2016, the two main banks of development in this country had record amounts for the region as the third consecutive year. These international financial institutions (IFIs) have their own environmental, social and access to information frameworks, so when designing a territorial defense strategy, it is useful to incorporate these tools. The foregoing complements the normative frameworks of international and national law that should prevail. The virtual course aims to deepen these issues.
GENERAL PURPOSE:
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
Wednesday of May: 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
9 to 10.30: Guatemala
10 to 11.30: Colombia / Mexico / Peru
11 to 12.30: Bolivia
12 to 13.30: Argentina / Brazil
The course is free and proof of participation will be given to those who have completed the five modules of the course.
REGISTRATIONS HERE
Further information: cursogrefi@fundar.org.mx