Table of contents
Preface
Introduction
Transparency Reforms in Mexico: Theory and Practice
I. Electoral Procedures
Transparency in the Judicial Phase of the 2006 Elections
Diversity the Broadcast Media: A Pending Issue Made Worse During the Electoral Process
Transparency or Cynicism? The Federal Electoral Institute’s Role in the 2006 Presidential Election Process
A Conflict of Interest: Accountablity in the IFE
Transparency in Mexico’s Special Prosecutor for Electoral Crimes (Fepade)
II. Political Institutions
Proposals for Transparency in Congress
Political Parties and the Demand for Transparency
III. Justice and Rights
Transparency and Access to Information in the Judicial System
Police and Transparency: Beyond Access to Information
The Transparent Opacity of the Mexican Army
Transparency and the Public Prosecutor’s Office
Transparency in Labor Unions
Access to Information, Agrarian Justice and Indigenous Rights
The National Human Rights Commission
The Transparent Denial of Information
Access to Information and Justice for Indigenous Peoples
The Protection of Journalists and Freedom of the Press
The Legal Quality of Appeals Decisions of the Federal Institute for Access to Public Information (IFAI)
IV. Economic Policy
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back? Budget Transparency and Access to Information in Mexico
Legislators the Labyrinth: Discretion and Opacity in the Policy Debate over Mexico’s Budget
The Bailout of the Banking System: Transparency Issues
Opacity In The Management Of Public Resources: The Case of Government Trust Funds
The Lack of Transparency and Accoutability Mechanisms for Mexico’s Oil Income
Mexico’s Perspectives on Transparency in the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank
V. Social Policy
Budget Transparency and Accountability in the social Development Ministry’s Anti-Poverty Programs
Transparency and Access to Information the Oportunidades Program
The Electoral Use of Federal Funds in the 2004 Oaxacan Elections
Transparency, Community Participation and Accountability in the Education System
Access to Medical Records
The Problem of Maternal Mortality: Access to Information and Accountability Put to the Test
Transparency in Mexico’s Budget for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS
Accountability the Allocation and Use of Public Resources by Civil Society Organizations
Public Access to Mexico’s External Evaluations of Government Programs
Social Audit Mechanisms in Mexico
VI. Environmental Policy
Access to Environmental Information
Mexico’s Pollutant Release Registry: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead
Public Information Access and Water Issues
VII. States and Municipalities
The Right to Know at the State Level
The Missing Local Model
Municipal Transparency: Diverse and Changing. Some Ideas to Work With
VIII. Cross-Cutting Issues
Mexico’s Freedom of Information Law in International Perspective
Information, Archives and Democracy
Whistleblowers and the Rule of Law in Mexico
Access to Public Interest Information Generated by Private Firms: Old Strings Attached or New Paradigms?
Boxes
Index of Boxes
Electoral Opacity: The Ballot Case
Transparency and the Internet: The case of the Federal Electoral Court
Copying Six Files Costs More Than a Mercedes Benz
The Murder of Journalists in Mexico
The IFAI’s Appeals Resolutions Meet Legal Standards
The FESI in Guanajuato: A Step Forward, or More of the Same?
Publishing Enrollment Lists of Welfare Beneficiaries
Practicing the Principles of Transparancy and Accountability in the University of Quintana Roo
Optimizing Transparency and the Challenge Facing the IFAI: Making the Principle of Maximum Possible Disclosure Effective in Environmental Issues
The “Access Initiative” in Mexico… and Latin America
IFAI Requests Are Only As Good the Rest of the Regulatory System: What Happens When the Information Just Isn’t There?
Case Study: The Legal Defense of Communities that Oppose the Construction of the “Parota” Dam
Access to Public Information in the Mexico City Government
Transparency in the Mexican State of Coahuila
Guerrero Grassroots Organizations Call for Transparency Reforms
Guadalajara and San Pedro Garza García: Examples of High Levels of Municipal Transparency
In Oaxaca, the Publication of the State Budget Does Not Assure Citizen Access to the Information
Constitutional Provisions and Legal Action Related to Access to information in Selected Countries in the Americas
If You Demand Transparency, They Might Come After You: Mexican Government Employees Need Whistleblower Protection
Fraud in the National Disaster Fund
Notes on the Authors
Notes on the authors
