TEGUCIGALPA, MDC,  April 2008 - Nineteen Hondurans participated in a workshop on “Lessons Learned on Access to Information Implementation” which took place in Mexico City, from April 21-24,  as part of the World Bank’s support to the adoption and implementation of Access to Information Legislation in the LAC region.  Aside from the Honduran Government officials responsible for access to information implementation, representatives from government and civil society from Bangladesh also joined the event co-organized by the LAC Public Sector Group, the World Bank Institute and Mexico’s Federal Institute for Access to Information(IFAI).

       The workshop aimed at: 1) exposing the two delegations to the achievements and challenges that Mexico has experienced in the adoption and implementation of ATI legislation; 2) providing participants with sound technical expertise and opinions on critical aspects of access to information implementation, such as those related to information technologies and systems, compliance process by public institutions, capacity-building and learning by public officials, and classification of information, among other key topics, and 3) strengthening the ties between Mexico and Honduran access to information practitioners, and paving the way toward the signing of a cooperation agreement between Honduras' Access to Information Institute (IAIP) and Mexico's IFAI.

        Mexico’s experience was thoroughly described during a two hour presentation made by Alfonso Lujambio, Commissioner President of IFAI. Despite acknowledging numerous challenges encountered by the institution since its foundation in 2002 President Lujambio underscored the passion and commitment of IFAI´s staff, which has contributed to making IFAI a leading institution on access to information internationally.

Alfonso Lujambio, President Commissioner of the Federal Institute for Accessing of Information, describes measures taken by the IFAI, “given that the law specifies that all information must be made public all the salaries of the public servants including the president’s salary have been made public and are available in the webpage.  One of the first controversies we had was in regards to the information of the past. We finally concluded that even if it was not necessary to publish it and it would be sufficient that it be made available upon written request”.

       Other presentations were made on: Access to Information and Data Protection, Perception Survey on the Usage of the Law, Web Portal, Assessing Transparency and Access to Information at Sub National Levels amongst others.  Moreover, participants held individual meetings with their counterparts at IFAI (Technology, Training, Media and Civil Society Relations, Communications, Legal). Participants who held positions as public information officials in line ministries and other public agencies also met with counterparts in the Mexican federal administration, such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Education. Highlight of the week was a visit to the Instituto Morelense de Informacion Pública y Estadística (IMIPE) in Cuernavaca, Morelos, in order to allow participants to learn about the functioning of a state-level access to information institution.

Honduran Attorney, Carlos Ortega, who attended the event as participant from the Supreme Court of Justice, stated that “the results of the training will depend to a great extent on who is in charge of the Supreme Court.  The current President is very supportive and always willing to find new avenues of support.”  Interaction with Mexican officials and IFAI’s experience has enriched all participants in his opinion. He believes that the priority ahead is “to strengthen the IAIP."

        As a result of the workshop, participants from the two delegations gained an understanding on how Mexican legislation and the IFAI work and the challenges ahead for the implementation of the law at the Federal and State level. In addition, links between IFAI and the two delegations were strengthened, leading to bilateral cooperation agreements. Both delegations were able to identify good practices from the Mexican case and, according to participants; it was also possible to relate them to their national contexts. Finally, participants agreed on the importance of organizing dissemination events upon returning to their countries in order to share what was learned at the workshop with colleagues who were unable to travel.

       The WB has also awarded an IDF grant to Honduras for the amount of US$ 340,000 for the implementation of its Access to Information Legislation in effect since January 2007.