On World Environment Day 2018, ARTICLE 19 has produced a guide to encourage the use of access to information mechanisms in Brazil, critical for tackling the country’s clean water access and sanitation issues.
The guide outlines how citizens can use Brazil’s Access to Information Law to make information requests on environmental issues which affect their lives. It provides information on the main ways in which citizens can participate on environmental issues: through public consultations, hearings, votes and participatory committees. It also details the obligations carried by Brazilian public bodies to improve access to information mechanisms.
ARTICLE 19 highlights Brazil’s biggest challenges to water management and recommends how strengthening public participation forums, increasing the quality and availability of data with respect to information request deadlines is essential towards achieving rights to water and sanitation.