Breathe
By Julieta del Río
A few weeks ago I was in Spain for the first presentations of my book: "Luz en la sombra. My way through transparency and INAI", which were very well received by the students of Spanish universities, such as the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Valladolid, but now it is time to start its presentation in Mexico, and we begin this Monday in my beloved Zacatecas. Although we are in a transition stage between the end of INAI and the transfer of these tasks to the federal government, which we are fulfilling to the fullest, this does not prevent me from presenting this work that I dreamed of and planned with experiences, since February 5 of last year.
"Light in the Shadow" is a revealing journey through the new model of transparency in our country. In its pages, I share what I lived in the heart of this transformation and what was woven day by day in the then INAI to build a fairer future. Each experience narrated is a testimony of struggle, commitment and the unwavering quest for real and effective access to information.
I tell stories, for example, of women who were victims of injustice due to the denial of information and benefited thanks to INAI's rulings: a mother whose daughter and grandson died without any explanation in a medical institution; another mother who, after the separation of her partner, did not receive the corresponding portion of support for her son; and so on, many cases of life.
The idea of these presentations, and those to come, is to share with women, men, young students, the media, academia and society in general my vision not only of the end of INAI, but of what its creation meant, all the work that existed behind it, which represented the defense of what was the autonomous constitutional body that guaranteed such valuable guarantees and that materialized for more than two decades transparency, accountability and the protection of personal data in Mexico.
In general terms, in this work I show the context of what is happening in our country regarding these rights. It is important to emphasize that their implementation has not been easy, as those of us who have participated in this construction have overcome not only the institutional obstacles to open the way to transparency, but also the barriers imposed by disinformation and manipulation.
As an expert, I understand the challenges of the right to information and the evolution of personal data protection in the Mexican public service. It is crucial that government administration follows the law, but we must also remember the human factor. Appeals and challenges represent people making important decisions in their lives.
Since my training as Comptroller, I emphasize the importance of verification in the proper management of resources. This work allows us to identify signs and evidence that reveal the improper use of resources, a practice that constitutes one of the biggest problems in Mexico: corruption. However, it should be noted that the mere identification of bad practices is insufficient.
It is essential to sanction them to ensure their eradication and, if necessary, to apply the corresponding administrative or criminal sanctions, thus seeking to repair the damage caused to the institutions. This has been the path I have followed throughout my 34-year professional career.
With this work I can also share this vision that has guided my professional life: Politics is a serious business that requires responsibility, professionalism, honesty and courage to face complex challenges. It is not a game for me, and the same goes for public service, it is always the assignment, not the position.
The story will continue and the most relevant thing is that the right to know and the National Transparency Platform prevail.
INAI could have been saved if it had promoted a reengineering proposed four years ago, yes. Also, unfortunately, the facts in light of some former commissioners came to give the most genuine pretexts, anomalies that, by the way, I myself denounced. Had I not done so, I would have been an accomplice. But well, let justice take care of everyone. The important thing is that the right to know and the protection of personal data in this country remain alive, in accordance with the Constitution, and with the vote of confidence in the Ministry of Public Function, Anticorruption and Good Governance. It will be up to us as citizens to monitor compliance, but also to be self-critical and contribute to improvements.
Julieta del Río is a former commissioner of the now defunct INAI.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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