On March 6th, during its 96th regular session, the Inter-American Juridical Committee (CJI) approved the Proposal for the Inter-American Model Law 2.0 on Access to Public Information.

This Proposal is the result of a long process triggered by a mandate from the General Assembly of the OAS. The Organization's highest body, aware of the significant impact that the Inter-American Model Law of 2010 has had on the adoption of new laws as well as on the legal reform processes across the region, and the creation of entities that oversee and guarantee the right of access to public information, deemed it necessary to continue to advance in the adoption of standards that allow for greater guarantees to the citizens of the Hemisphere in light of the new challenges that have arisen and within the framework of the best practices that have been developed in the decade since the adoption of said Inter-American Model Law.

In this context, through resolution AG/RES 2927 (XLVIII-O/18) "Democracy Strengthening", the General Assembly requested the Department of International Law (DIL) to consult with the focal points of the Inter-American Program on Access to Public Information, and to consider inputs from civil society to identify thematic areas in which an update or expansion of the 2010 Model Law was deemed necessary, and to submit its findings to the CJI.

Therefore, the DIL undertook an intensive consultation process with legislators, guarantor bodies, civil society, scholars and other social actors that included surveys, workshops and virtual discussions, supported by the Red de Transparencia y Acceso (RTA) a network of guarantor bodies from across the region, as well as the EuroSOCIAL + program. At the conclusion of this process, the DIL presented the CJI with a consolidated document that included all the text agreed upon by consensus during the consultation process, for its consideration during the 95th regular session of the CJI, held in July-August 2019. Subsequently, the DIL prepared a proposal that included all the comments and suggestions made by the CJI members, which was ultimately approved at the 96th regular session in March 2020.

The CJI has transmitted its Proposal for a Model Law 2.0 to the political bodies of the Organization for their information, aiming to merit its consideration and approval during the fiftieth regular session of the General Assembly, scheduled for June 2020.

In this way, the OAS continues to highlight the importance of access to public information as a tool that increases the levels of transparency in public service, heightens the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, promotes open competition, investment and economic growth, empowers the people - particularly those who are most vulnerable, and becomes a fundamental component in the exercise of democracy.

For further information on this matter, please contact the Department of International Law of the OAS – Technical Secretariat of the Inter-American Juridical Committee +1 202 370 0743.