Esse trabalho explora a relação entre política externa e democracia a partir das reflexões sobre o acesso à informação na política externa brasileira com a inserção da temática ambiental no caso dos pneus, entre a controvérsia do Mercosul e o contencioso da OMC. Por meio de uma aproximação entre o instrumental teórico de análise de política externa e de políticas públicas foi possível questionar os limites do acesso à informação como condição para a participação de outros atores além do Ministério de Relações Exteriores (MRE) na redefinição da defesa do Brasil, com a inserção da temática ambiental, de uma instância para outra. A hipótese demonstrada refere-se à ampliação do acesso à informação que seguiu a ampliação dos espaços de definição da política externa no caso. Essa ampliação foi observada a partir do processo de descentralização dos espaços tradicionais de definição da política externa brasileira (MRE), com a inclusão, por exemplo, do Ministério do Meio Ambiente. No entanto, a tendência de ampliação do acesso à informação como condição para a participação de atores não governamentais, neste caso, mostrou-se limitada por uma conduta seletiva e informal pelos órgãos do governo para interlocução com determinados atores; This research aims at studying the relationship between foreign policy and democracy. The study focuses on access to information in Brazilian foreign policy through the introduction of the environmental arguments in the retreaded tyres dispute from Mercosur to the WTO (WT/DS332). The research was based on foreign and public policy analysis. These theoretical bases enabled to investigate the limits to a wider participation of actors other than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) on foreign policy. The research shows an enlargement on policy making with the integration of the environmental arguments which resulted...

With the purpose of at lowering costs and reendering the demanded information available to users with no access to the internet, service companies have adopted automated interaction technologies in their call centers, which may or may not meet the expectations of users. Based on different areas of knowledge (man-machine interaction, consumer behavior and use of IT) 13 propositions are raised and a research is carried out in three parts: focus group, field study with users and interviews with experts. Eleven automated service characteristics which support the explanation for user satisfaction are listed, a preferences model is proposed and evidence in favor or against each of the 13 propositions is brought in. With balance scorecard concepts, a managerial assessment model is proposed for the use of automated call center technology. In future works, the propositions may become verifiable hypotheses through conclusive empirical research.

Introduction: The right of access information has been increasing. Its importance has been emphasized by scholars, by the experts, the media and governments. Objective: This article aims to analyze the scope of Law 12.527/11 in combating corruption and contribution to the consolidation of democracy in Brazil. Methodology: As a research technique was adopted a qualitative approach, using literature review and documentary research. Results: The Law 12.527/11 shows an improvement in the effectiveness of the right to information access. Among the relevant aspects, highlight the stipulation of reasonable deadlines for obtaining information from public agencies, the use of information and communication technologies facilitating access to public information. Conclusions: It is concluded that to build a true democracy, becomes indispensable the clear and transparent access to public information, and greater popular participation, thereby strengthening democratic systems.

Providing citizens with open access to information is a cornerstone of good governance. Transparency is essential to allow citizens and markets to hold institutions accountable for their policies and performance, to foster trust in government and minimize corruption. In the Latin America and the Caribbean region several countries have adopted Freedom of Information laws and a few more are currently considering them. This movement provides a unique opportunity to strengthen accountability relationships in the region. The World Bank is providing ongoing support to Access to Information (ATI) implementation through different instruments. In the Dominican Republic legislation was adopted and draft legislation to establish a regulatory body has been submitted to Congress. Finally, with Bank support for institutional development, the Honduran Congress adopted ATI legislation in late 2006 and appointed Access to Information Commissioners in 2007. As new oversight institutions are created and ATI legislation gets passed in America and Caribbean (LAC) it will be crucial for the Bank to provide assistance and build the capacity of the new Commissions. The importance of the Commissions and of ATI to the larger goals of the governance and anti-corruption agenda reinforce the need for the Bank to remain actively engaged with this community and continue its convening and knowledge brokering role.

Financial Access 2009 introduces the latest data from a survey of financial regulators in 139 countries. It presents indicators of access to savings, credit, and payment services in banks, and in regulated nonbank financial institutions. It is intended for a broad audience of policymakers, researchers, practitioners, multilateral and bilateral investors, in order to guide monetary policy, monitor systemic risks, and collect information on the values of deposits and credit. This report reviews three interventions: disclosure requirements, interest rate caps, and methods to address excessive lending that can result in consumer indebtedness. Improved transparency and disclosure allow borrowers to make informed choices and can facilitate competition in financial markets, eventually leading to lower prices and improved products. Policies to restrict interest rates or credit quantity, especially in consumer credit, seem to have limited effect but require further analysis.

The study documents, and reviews the Chilean experience in rural telecommunications, by focusing on the principles, practical organization, basic design, and outstanding issues for extension of a more advanced form of approach to communication, and access to information. It examines in depth the results, and success factors of the Telecommunications Development Fund, established in 1994, a success largely due to the extensive reliance on market forces to determine, and allocate subsidies, to minimal regulatory intervention, and relatively simple processing. The design of the Fund proved robust, and remains the leading example of a cost-effective solution to reduce access gaps in basic communication in emerging economies. However, questions remain on the sustainability of services for the long run, on how to support the small, but still excluded rural population, and on potential, further needs in urban areas.

Access to information, and communications technologies has become crucial to a sustainable agenda of economic development, and poverty reduction, and yet access remains concentrated in a few regions and population groups, with the contours of this new "digital divide" closely following, and supplementing existing income, and economic divides. However, technological innovations, economic pressures, and regulatory reforms, are making access to information, and communications technologies more affordable, and, providing opportunities to close the digital divide. This discussion paper outlines a number of policy, and regulatory measures, including incentives to attract investors to high cost, or challenging areas, that can be used under different scenarios, to close the digital divide. While Bank Group experience shows an increasing number of projects with specific universal access components, this paper proposes alternatives for Bank Group support for universal access policies, through an appropriate mix of technical assistance...

This implementing right to information lessons from experience has attempted to sketch out the key areas that are important to address during the implementation of Right-to-Information (RTI). In particular, it has highlighted both the imperative of setting up a number of institutions to build capacity and support for RTI in the public sector as well as the challenges in sustaining implementation institutions as political will erodes. It has highlighted the critical importance of the underlying political economy and governance environment, an area often ignored in devising reforms but that is key to whether RTI ultimately works effectively or has any impact. The number of countries with RTI laws-laws that establish citizens `right` to have access to public information or operationalize such a right found in the constitution has exploded. Most of the new adopters are countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and most recently, Africa and the Middle East-countries. The international momentum translated into law when domestic dynamics were favorable...

This paper summarizes the results of the impact evaluation of the Access to Information pilot project on empowerment of citizens in poor municipalities in the Dominican Republic. Among the dimensions of empowerment investigated are civic knowledge, awareness and use of the right to information, perceptions of and trust in public services and institutions, civic participation, and measures of local governance. Data were collected in two rounds: a baseline round at the end of 2010 and a follow-up round in mid-2012. No impact is found on awareness and the use of information under the specific Access to Information rules. However, it is observed that individuals address more general complaints to governments as a result of the Access to Information program regardless of whether these are classified under the ATI law or not. Some positive and statistically significant impacts are found on local government responsiveness, prioritization and decisions about the municipal budget, and trust in and satisfaction with some local government services.

This first round of eight case studies was completed in 2012. The case studies were prepared examining the experience of a number of countries that have passed Right to Information (RTI) legislation within the last 15 years: Albania, India, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Romania, Uganda, and the United Kingdom. Each country case study assesses four dimensions critical to the effective implementation of RTI legislation as follows: 1. The scope of the information that the law covers, which determines whether an RTI law can serve as the instrument of more transparent and accountable governance as envisaged by its advocates. For example, a law that leaves too many categories of information out of its purview, that does not adequately apply to all agencies impacting public welfare or using public resources, or that potentially contradicts with other regulations, like secrecy laws, will not be effective. 2. Issues related to public sector capacity and incentives, additional key functions and demands within the public sector created by RTI...

El presente estudio se realiza en el marco del Proyecto MINECO “Régimen jurídico constitucional del Gobierno 2.0-Open government. Participación y transparencia electrónicas y uso de las redes sociales por los poderes públicos” (DER2012-37844); El estudio analiza la nueva ley de transparencia y acceso a la información aprobada en España. Se hace referencia a la importancia que puede tener la consideración del acceso a la información como derecho fundamental en el marco de la libertad de información del artículo 20 CE. Se expone el ámbito y sujetos obligados por la ley, la información activa que de forma obligatoria se ha de suministrar y especialmente, el derecho de acceso a la información pública, sus límites y las discutibles garantías, recursos y órganos de garantía establecidos. Por último, se hace una valoración positiva de la ley, indicando en todo caso las críticas más importantes al tiempo que se señala lo que se considera la clave para el futuro; The new law on transparency and access to information passed in Spain is analyzed. It is emphasized the importance of the right of access to information as fundamental right included in the freedom of expression. The author explains the scope and subjects required by law...

The right to access and request information is enshrined in article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights. Access to information (ATI) plays an essential role for promoting accountability and citizens ability to monitor the actions of the government, and it contributes to participatory development. The goal of this report is to provide an overview of the situation of access to information in the Middle East and North Africa (MNA) region, in particular the cases of Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. This report looks at previous and current efforts for promoting ATI in the region in order to facilitate knowledge exchange among ATI practitioners across those countries and to help them identify areas for collaboration in the region. For each country, this report will first examine the legal and or institutional framework, including a range of factors such as constitutional provisions, restrictive legislation, relevant regional and international conventions, and key administrative bodies. Government initiatives affecting the right of ATI are then considered in detail for each country. This report examines the practice of ATI for each of these four countries...

The purpose of this paper is to report on the level of access to formal financial services in the Kyrgyz Republic, assess the key obstacles to improving access, and make recommendations to overcome these obstacles. The paper is organized as follows. Sections II to IV examine the supply of financial services. Specifically, section II presents a profile of financial intermediation by banks, focusing their supply of financial services, particularly lending and deposits. Section III presents a profile of lending by Aiyl Bank, a specialized bank with a limited license, which is mandated to lend for agriculture. Section IV presents a profile of lending by non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), including microfinance organizations (MFOs) and credit unions. Section V examines the demand side for financial services, drawing on enterprise surveys to assess firms' perceptions of their access to finance. Section VI presents a brief analysis of the impact of the events of April 2010 on access to finance. Section VII discusses key obstacles in increasing access to finance from banks and NBFIs. Section VIII concludes with policy recommendations that derive from the preceding analysis.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is at one of the most critical turning points in its modern history. The Arab spring was driven by the desire for economic opportunity and justice in the face of poverty and unemployment. The development of strong economies that enable both women and men to enhance their livelihoods is crucial for the future of the region. The growth and success of women-owned businesses is one of the most profound changes in the business world today. There is no doubt that women are an emerging market force. However, many businesswomen are not accessing commercial credit, an essential driver of business success. Lack of access to finance and financial services is repeatedly identified as the major constraint for women business owners. This report 'ready for growth: solutions to increase access to finance for women-owned business in the Middle East and North Africa', is designed to shed a light on those barriers. It is the result of a unique International Finance Corporation (IFC) partnership with vital voices and the Middle East and North Africa Businesswomen's Network (MENA BWN). Its purpose is to fill a critical gap in our knowledge of what women-owned businesses need in terms of financial products and services. Building on our knowledge of how commercial banks currently reach the women's market...

Mauritania is a vast country covering over a million square kilometers, where a relatively small population of 3.5 million people lives on just one-fifth of the country’s total area. With extremely advanced desertification, the country is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change and other external shocks. The main sources of income in Mauritania are agriculture, which is either irrigated or rain-fed, and livestock. This is especially the case in the Senegal River Valley, where people make their living farming, raising livestock, and fishing, while mining is prevalent in the north. Arable land is therefore one of the country’s main resources, but it is also a major source of contention due to increasing urbanization and the limited availability of arable land. This presentation relies on the key recommendations emphasized in the Land Governance Framework Report (LGAF), published by the World Bank in 2014. This report established a far-reaching and more inclusive national land policy that strengthens the security of land tenure for vulnerable groups...

July 1, 2013, marked the beginning of World Bank's fourth year of implementing its Policy on Access to Information (AI Policy). In this fourth year, covering the period of July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 (hereinafter FY 2014), the World Bank continued its efforts to maximize the public's access to Information in the World Bank's possession and to encourage, through its own activities, improved aid transparency across the development community.

Technological innovation drives economic progress. Information and communication technologies (ICT) can be leveraged for development, but harnessing this potential depends on an enabling environment for their production, diffusion, and use. Otherwise, technology can widen rather than narrow existing inequalities. Over the past decade developing countries have seen rapid but uneven growth in ICT access and use. The unprecedented spread of mobile technologies, driven by private sector investment and supported by reforms to promote competition, enabled the growth of phone services for the underserved and poor to levels unseen before. But outside mobile telephony, large gaps exist in high-speed Internet access and broadband connectivity and in the diffusion and use of ICT in business, services, and government the areas where ICT can deliver the largest developmental impacts. The World Bank Group's strategy has sought development results in ICT by promoting (i) sector reform, (ii) access to information infrastructure...

O direito à informação em saúde é um direito que se legitima a partir da informação mediada pelo profissional de saúde, permitindo com que o paciente se empodere desta informação, com a possibilidade de gerar conhecimento e, conseqüentemente, facilitar o exercício de sua cidadania. Esta pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório, com orientação analítico-descritiva, apresentou como objetivo identificar o conhecimento de usuários do setor de Clínica Médica de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBDS) de Ribeirão Preto sobre o seu direito à informação especificado no art. 2º, incisos VI, VII, VIII, e XI da Lei Estadual 10.241/1999: direito a informações claras e objetivas sobre diagnósticos, exames e quaisquer procedimentos realizados pela equipe de saúde, direito de consentir ou recusar procedimentos, direito ao acesso ao seu prontuário médico em caso de necessidade e, por fim, direito a receber receitas médicas legíveis, com assinatura e registro do médico. Utilizou-se para a coleta de dados de entrevista semi-estruturada e a análise dos dados foi realizada a partir da análise de conteúdo. As entrevistas foram realizadas logo após a consulta médica, com 22 usuários de uma UBDS, na tentativa de coletar os dados durante o ato reflexivo do paciente sobre o momento vivido recentemente. Os resultados demonstram que...

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1807-1384.2013v10n2p263O presente artigo propõe uma reflexão teórica acerca da questão do desenvolvimento na sociedade da informação, comparando suas categorias e objetos centrais. A partir daí, verifica, no âmbito das organizações internacionais, o que se entende por desenvolvimento e as respectivas implicações na sociedade da informação. Avalia as transformações processadas no direito humano à informação na dinâmica da evolução tecnológica, que conduziram à emergência do direito de acesso à Internet e de seu potencial reconhecimento como direito humano. Examina, a seguir, os argumentos a favor e contra tal reconhecimento e as suas respectivas implicações. Considera, por fim, que o estágio atual é inconclusivo, embora caminhe a passos firmes no sentido de acolher o direito de acesso à Internet como direito humano; contudo, pondera que se devesse pensar em garantir acesso à informação de forma ampla, por quaisquer meios.; This paper proposes a theoretical reflection on the question of development within the information society, comparing their categories and central objects. Starting from there, it checks what is meant as development by international organizations as well as its implications to the information society. It evaluates the changes performed to the human right to information on behalf of the dynamics of technological evolution which led to the emergence of the right to Internet access and its potential acknowledgement as a human right. Then...

Resumo O Brasil tem se destacado por propor e desenvolver políticas públicas de acesso à informação. Trata-se de iniciativas nem sempre coordenadas que estão compondo um leque de ações "espontaneamente" consistentes. Embora sejam avançadas, é preciso avaliar se, no contexto de estruturas internacionalizadas, essas políticas nacionais são eficazes. Neste artigo são avaliadas especificamente as políticas de acesso à informação científica.Palavras-chave políticas de acesso à informação; acesso aberto à informação científica Abstract Brazil has stood out in its efforts to propose and elaborate public policy in the realm of access to information. These initiatives, not always well coordinated, make up a range of “spontaneously” consistent actions. Although quite advanced, it is necessary to evaluate if, in a context of internationalized structures, these national policies can be effective. This article puts the focus specifically on policies regarding access to scientific information.Keywords policies of access to information; open access to scientific information