The week of América Abierta was an inspiring and collaborative event that brought together over 1,100 participants in Brasília. This vibrant and growing community engaged in thoughtful discussions and debates about the present and future of the data agenda for democracy in the region. We at ILDA are pleased and proud to have co-organized another edition of América Abierta, marking the 11th edition of #Abrelatam #ConDatos.

Abrelatam at América Abierta

Among the various event tracks, the Abrelatam unconference featured 20 sessions where more than 250 participants debated and shared experiences and ideas. The aim was to generate knowledge and collective responses to the most pressing issues regarding data, digital rights, and artificial intelligence. The discussions covered various topics, including access to information, LGBTIQ+ data, data feminism, citizen participation, personal data, and data usage.

From the conclusions and commitments established during these sessions, we continued our work in the following days’ Community Spaces, where actionable strategies were developed by the Abrelatam community:

  • Strengthen our community by exchanging best practices, tools, methodologies, and technologies for opening public data.
  • Develop and share insights on topics addressed in Abrelatam 2024, including datasets, infrastructures, and collaborative applications, as well as contacts with organizations working in these areas.
  • Promote social awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of open data for democratic societies.
  • Remain vigilant and engage with governments to prevent setbacks in access to public information and to ensure that citizens’ rights are protected by national legislation.

 

 

 

Data for Inclusion and Gender Equality

At ILDA, we believe that open data can drive change to achieve gender equality and inclusion. During América Abierta, we had the opportunity to present the progress and results of our projects in collaboration with various partner organizations. Here are some key activities and reflections:

Invisibles No Más

Carlos Valdes from Asociación Lambda presented a project aimed at raising awareness about violence against the LGBTIQ+ population in Central America, in which we participated alongside five other organizations. Together with Hivos and Data Cívica, he shared significant results and insights during an engaging panel discussion.

Dateros Projects in the Spotlight

In a workshop co-organized with Open Heroines, Data Cívica, Datalat, Open Data Charter,  we reflected on the #DialogosDateros project from a #DatosFeministas perspective. Some key ideas that emerged included:

  • Flexible Methodologies: Adapting our strategies to different contexts and communities—one size does not fit all!
  • Listen to Communities: Challenge assumptions and prioritize communities’ needs in processes and follow-ups. Set aside personal ego!

The 1,2,3 of Transfeminist Data

In collaboration with Mundo Sur and Democracia en Red, we conducted a workshop to create ethical recommendations for community data generation and analysis from a transfeminist perspective. Key themes included:

  • Humanizing Data
  • Questioning Privilege
  • Intersectionality
  • Decoloniality
  • Accessibility

 

 

 

Data for the Democratic Governance of AI

Throughout the event, we shared projects and ideas to contribute to the conversation on the democratic governance of artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in developing governance frameworks aligned with human rights principles. Here are some highlights:

Responsible AI from the Global South

Gloria Guerrero from ILDA, Silvana Fumega from the Global Data Barometer, and Nicolas Grossman from the Global Index on Responsible AI, discussed the role of measurement tools in formulating public policies and creating governance frameworks that promote more just, inclusive, and ethical societies.

Data Sharing in Latin America

Aremí González Ruiz, project coordinator at ILDA, presented findings from our research in Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay, which aimed to identify best practices in data-sharing frameworks that are robust, sustainable, inclusive, and focused on democracy and human rights.

Engagement with Governments

Gloria Guerrero and Violeta Belver participated alongside Juan Manuel Garcia from Derechos Digitales in presenting the Inter-American Framework for Data Governance and Artificial Intelligence, led by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). This initiative aims to collaborate with government representatives to establish commitments for its implementation.

 

 

 

This historic meeting bridged ecosystems and communities from various countries, languages, contexts, and cultures. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to our co-organizers: Controladoria-Geral da União (CGU), Open Knowledge Brasil, Núcleo de Informação e Coordenação do Ponto BR, Colaboratório de Desenvolvimento e Participação da Universidade de São Paulo, the Organization of American States (OAS), OECD, Open Government Partnership (OGP), and the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC).

In 2025, Abrelatam ConDatos will take place in Bolivia for the first time. In this year of the Bicentennial, the Latin American data community will gather in Bolivia to continue building the future of the open data agenda together.