The online Plataforma Democrática library—featured in the Spring 2009 AQ—has reached a new milestone: 8,000 freely-available publications on Latin American democracy. Plus, a new video library has over 50 hours of conference footage
An English-language Web portal launched by the Woodrow Wilson Center Mexico Institute in November 2009 provides up-to-the-minute analysis on topics ranging from the economy to security and migration. The launch coincides with its release of a publication with El Colegio de la Frontera Norte on cross-border challenges, titled Strategic Guidelines for the Competitive and Sustainable Development of the U.S.-Mexico Transborder Region. Available in English and Spanish.
Global Integrity released a toolkit in November at the National Endowment for Democracy that assesses local governments’ success in fighting corruption in three Latin American countries. Produced in conjunction with local NGOs—Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC, Argentina), Grupo FARO (Ecuador) and Ciudadanos al Día (Peru)—it covers issues such as local public financial management, conflict-of-interest safeguards and the financing of local political parties and candidates. Assessments available in Spanish.
The Justice Studies Center of the Americas’ fifth annual Index of Online Access to Judicial Information finds that Brazilian and Chilean courts have the most information available online. The November 2009 report lauds Guatemala and Paraguay for their best-in-the-region improvements. One challenge is that lower-level courts tend to publish less information online. Available in Spanish.
