Federal Institute for Access to Public

InformationJuan Pablo Guerrero Amparán

Commissioner

March 2007

Information Federal Act in Mexico: an assessment of impacts and limits (2003-

07)

Presentation outline

• Information Federal Act: Main Characteristics

• Mandatory Public Information & New Transparency Web Site

• Information Requests

• Appeals filed Before IFAI

• How Many Use the Right to Know?

• Requests in the States: the local challenge

• Constitutional Reform

• INFOMEX (E Based Access)

• Success Stories

• Weaknesses & Resistance

IFA: Main characteristics

• Mandatory Government information on Internet

• Rules for access and classification • Communication & protection of private data • Record keeping & archives organization • No need for ID nor justification of request• Universal, free & easy access (E-based

access)• Administrative Court (enforcement & appeals)• Requesters can appeal to Judiciary

IFAI

• Authority in the Executive Branch (Federal P.A.)

• Five Commissioners: President appointments,

Senate can object

• Tenure (7 years appointment)

• Legal autonomy: Decision, budget &

administrative

• Rulings are mandatory for Federal Executive

Branch

Mandatory Information on Internet

• Directory, organizational structure, services

• Salaries & benefits of public officials

• Budget, public finances

• Contracts, procurement, concessions, permits,

authorizations

• Subsidies, participation mechanisms

• Audit results, legal framework (regulations)

portaltransparencia.gob.mx

New Transparency Web Site

1. Standard search devise

2. A single site for consultation per agency or activity

In March 2007, Federal Agencies included

in the site represent 60% of requests

www.sisi.org.mx

1. Requests can be filed electronically

2. Information can be posted on the site

3. Time for notification is reduced

4. Permanent follow-up of the status

5. Information posted for other requesters is available

6. Further information can be required through SISI

7. Costs & Payment are processed through the System

8. Appeals can be lodged through SISI.

9. Several reports and statistics can be generated

www.sisi.org.mx

ZOOM – www.ifai.org.mx

• Requests & responses are public• Zoom: search tool for requests,

responses & appeals• Includes IFAI research papers,

analysis & internal reports

*If we compare 2006 and 2007, it is clear the significant increase in the number of requests.

Accumulated number of information requests Up to February 28th, 2007

4,768

8,945

13,482

16,698

19,768

22,63324,097

4,918

8,135

11,196

14,136

17,254

20,643

24,650

28,385

31,916

35,47737,732

15,032

19,366

24,502

29,741

33,998

39,087

45,066

51,377

60,213

2,027

37,331

32,340

26,700

22,640

47,333

42,453

3,128

6,827

10,686

14,404

18,487

50,127

9,213

56,421

4,560

17,703

9,423

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

J anuary February March April May J une J uly August September october November December

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Number of appeals increased during 06-07.

Three hypothesis:

1.) Agencies are disclosing less;

2.) Requests are more complex and relevant; or

3.) Petitioners are more familiarized with IA

Accumulated number of appeals filed before IFAI Up to February 28th, 2007

17100

169314

460563

635

1,240

1,561

1,819

2,081

2,442

2,639

853

1,074

1,448

1,807

2,045

2,320

2,605

2,983

3,4093,535

44119

243

333453

589726

900

1,0661,194

1,3441,431

982

829

123

280

483

651

529

236

783

382

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

J anuary February March April May J une J uly August September october November December

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Information requests and Appeals Up to February 28th

CONCEPT 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 TOTAL

Total information requests 24,097 37,732 50,127 60,213 17,703 189,872

Appeals filed before IFAI

635 1,431 2,639 3,535 783 9,023

Proportion appeals /requests

2.6 3.8 5.3 5.9 4.4 4.8

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

INFORMATION REQUESTS & APPEALS

Information requests Appeals filed before IFAI

Frequent Users (March 2007)

Individual users - Range Percentage of Requests

51 - 100 requests 7.6

51 - 200 requests 14.6

51 - 300 requests 18.3

51 - 400 requests 20.5

51 and more 26.2

The highest number of requests made by a single user is 1,133

How many users?

183,000 request up to march 2007 (SISI)

72,000 SISI users

10,000 users have made 122,000 requests (63%)

366 users have made 26 % of the requests

153 users have made 18.5 % of the requests

Requests by StatesFebruary 2007

= 46.6 %

= 12.7 %

1.5% - 3.7%

0 - 1.4%

Requests by states Up to February 28th

43%

11%

4%

3%

2%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

44%

13%

4%

3%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

47%

12%

4%

3%

3%

2%

2%

1%

2%

2%

14%

3%

3%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

50%

13%

3%

3%

3%

3%

2%

1%

1%

1%

50%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Distrito Federal

México

Jalisco

Puebla

Nuevo León

Veracruz

Chihuahua

Tamaulipas

Guanajuato

Sonora

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Right to know in the Mexican Constitution

Article 6.[...] The State will guaranty the right to information. (1976)

1. Approved reform (Deputies), Art. 6

• Government information is public by definition

• It can be classified if that is in the public interest

• Principle of maximum publicity must prevail

• Protection of privacy rights & private data

• No ID nor justification needed for requests

2. Approved reform (Deputies, March 2007)

• Free and easy access (E based access)

• An independent body to review complaints

• All expenditures involving public funds are to be disclose

• Sanctions must be incorporated

Implications to State Government Regulations

(Current situation, 2007)STATE

AGS BC BCS CAMP

COAH

COL CHIS CHI DF DUR

E- Based Access

YES YES YES YES

E-Based Comm of Private Data

YES

Relevant Mand . Info.

YES YES YES YES

Implications to Local Government Regulations II

(Current situation, 2007)

STATE

MEX GTO GRO HGO JAL MICH

MOR NAY NL OAX

E- Based Access

YES YES YES YES

E-Based Comm of Private Data

Relevant Mand. Info.

YES YES

Implications to Local Government Regulations III

(Current situation, 2007)

STATE

PUE QRO Q-ROO SLP SIN SON TAB TAMPS

TLAX VER YUC ZAC

E- Based Access

YES YES

E-Based Comm of Private Data

YES

Relevant Mand. Info.

YES YES YES

Implications to Local Government Regulations IV

(Current situation, 2007)

32 STATES YES NOElectronically Based Access 10 22

Electronically Based Communication & correction of Private Data

2 30

Relevant & Complete Mandatory Information

9 23

INFOMEX IFAI – World Bank IDF

Federal model of electronically based

access transferred to localgovernment

IFAI transfers technology & providestraining

World Bank assures funds, ability tomobilize & credibility

INFOMEX IFAI – WB IDF –current situation

• States: AGS, BC, CHI, DF, NL, JAL

(soon: CAMP, MOR, VER)

• Municipalities: Guadalajara, Monterrey,

Mexicali, Puebla, Durango (so far 7)

Challenge: integrate 32 States and over 250 municipalities in short period of time

IFA, Success stories I

• Savings & Loans Security Commission (IPAB-Fobaproa): accountability in banking system rescue

• Public Funds & Trusts (transparency vs banking secrecy)

• Personal access to medical files

IFA, Success stories II

• Violators, infractions & fines for braking federal regulation (Environment, Transportation, etc.)

• International PEMEX’s clients

• Evaluation to schools

IFA, Success stories III

• PEMEX-GATE: public version of law suit files regarding illegal electoral funding

• Files on political repression & assassinations in 1971 (genocide)

• Donations to labor unions and other organizations (Art. 69 PEF 2006)

IFA, Success stories IV

• Transparency in military procurement & National Defense Plans

• Access to geographical location of direct subsidy allocation (Oportunidades)

IFA - Weaknesses

• Inexistence of documents is legitimated

• Administrative sanctions depend on Department subordinated to the President

• Classifies information related to any on-going administrative process

• Does not regulate local government

IFA - Resistance I

• Law-suits against IFA (Departments, agencies)

• Law-suits against IFAI rulings (public servants)

• Inexistent information (archive chaos)

• Legal initiatives to undermine IFAI’s authority

IFA - Resistance II

• Lack of compliance with IFAI’s rulings

• New legislation initiatives with transparency exemptions (National Defense, Housing, Budget, Navy Law, etc)

• Handicapped State Access Laws