Specialist in Public Transparency, Robert Gregory Michener, leads the debate on the 11 years of the Brazilian law on freedom of information (LAI)
During the event, Professor Michener highlighted the advances, challenges, and next steps for strengthening LAI.
Professor Robert Gregory Michener (FGV EBAPE) was invited by the Brazilian Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) to participate in the commemorative event of the 11th anniversary of the Brazilian Lei de Acesso a Informação (LAI) (law on freedom of information). He participated in the campaign to create the Brazilian law on freedom of information, which gained international attention. He is also the coordinator of the FGV Public Transparency Program and the Transparency Evaluation Network, initiatives dedicated to evaluating government transparency implementation and compliance, funded by the Open Society Foundation – Latin America. During the debate table “LAI 11 years - Balance and Future,” on May 16, 2023, in Brasília, DF, Professor Michener highlighted the advances, challenges, and next steps for strengthening this law.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Minister of Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, participated in the event’s opening.
During the event, Professor Michener highlighted that the LAI had been strengthened at the federal level over the years and had survived several attempts to neutralize it. He brought up two points to be explored in future studies: “first, the institutions that should most defend the rule of law and fundamental rights, in this case, the Public Ministry [which is similar to the Public Prosecutor’s Office], and the Judiciary, are the institutions evaluated as the worst at complying with the LAI. Another point is that when thinking locally, half of the municipalities have not yet regulated the LAI. Municipal autonomy is a complex issue.”
Despite the challenges, Professor Michener recognized and congratulated the excellent work carried out by the CGU to improve LAI’s enforcement.
The event was divided into seven debate tables, fostering discussions around the challenges faced by the LAI over the last few years and provoking more profound reflections on the means to democratize the right to freedom of information in the next decade.
Robert Gregory Michener é professor da FGV EBAPE e coordenador do Programa de Transparência Pública da FGV e o Transparency Evaluation Network, ambas iniciativas dedicadas à avaliação da implementação e cumprimento da transparência governamental, e financiadas pela Open Society Foundation - América Latina. Michener participou da campanha pela criação de uma lei de acesso à informação pública brasileira contribuindo para que o esforço recebesse atenção internacional.
Professor Michener teaches in the MSc and PhD programs in administration at FGV EBAPE. The application process for both programs is open until August 03, 2023.
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