Good Governance Needs Good Data: the Central America Monitor Looks Ahead – Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

Good Governance Needs Good Data: the Central America Monitor Looks Ahead  Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

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Jan 30, 2025 - 02:00
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Good Governance Needs Good Data: the Central America Monitor Looks Ahead – Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

Sustainable Development Goals and the Central America Monitor

Introduction

In 2014, WOLA joined with three partner organizations in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to launch the Central America Monitor. This successful program gathers hard-to-find information about governance indicators throughout the region, and evaluates what is progressing and what is not.

Those indicators include justice and the rule of law, combatting corruption, tackling violent crime, protecting human rights, improving police capacities, limiting military roles, and improving access to information.

Troublingly, progress along many of these indicators has been complicated in recent years by a weakening of democratic norms and institutions. Concerns about the integrity of Guatemala’s 2023 elections are one of many examples.

The Monitor will soon be launching its latest edition with a major information update and an interactive website. WOLA will add a link to this page when that happens.

Central American Partners Discuss Findings

To introduce the Monitor’s new edition, WOLA hosted Central American partners in Washington in mid-July. Two of them joined the podcast to discuss their findings and upcoming challenges: WOLA’s Central America research specialist, Elizabeth Kennedy, and the executive director of Guatemala’s Myrna Mack Foundation, Lissette Vásquez.

Podcast and Additional Information

Download the podcast .mp3 file here. Listen to WOLA’s Latin America Today podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you subscribe to podcasts. The main feed is here.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
    • Indicator: Governance indicators related to justice and the rule of law.
    • Indicator: Progress in combatting corruption.

  2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
    • Indicator: Progress in tackling violent crime.

  3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
    • Indicator: Progress in improving access to information.

  4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

    • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
    • Indicator: Progress in improving police capacities.
    • Indicator: Progress in limiting military roles.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. Governance indicators related to justice and the rule of law.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. Progress in combatting corruption.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. Progress in tackling violent crime.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. Progress in improving access to information.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. Progress in improving police capacities.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. Progress in limiting military roles.

Source: wola.org