The Open Parliament e-Network (OPeN) proudly joined Open Americas 2024, a two-day regional conference held in Brasília under the theme “Connection Without Borders.” This gathering united parliamentarians, reformers, civil society leaders, and international organizations to explore pathways for advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation across the Americas.
During this two-day conference, the celebration of Open Parliament Day took place on December 3 with an event organized by OPeN (represented by ParlAmericas, NDI, DL and the Latin American Network for Legislative Transparency) and the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.
This forum featured in-depth discussions on leveraging artificial intelligence and digital innovation to enhance parliamentary work and citizen engagement, proving the collective commitment to strengthening democratic governance through openness and innovation.
Another key focus was the reduction of barriers to participation for women and marginalized communities, emphasizing the importance of inclusive governance. Sessions explored themes such as public integrity, civic spaces, and gender-responsive practices to address systemic inequities in legislative processes.
The following day, December 4, expanded the conversation through plenary and breakout sessions under the broader Open Americas framework. Topics included the role of parliaments in fostering the principles of Open Government as well as for strengthening civic space legislation and protections. The potential of participatory digital governance processes to help create accessible and responsive governance systems was also addressed.
Representatives from Parliaments, CSOs and international organizations actively participated, enriching the discussions with global perspectives on open government practices. Participants underscored the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in achieving the goals of openness and accountability.
Through this collaborative effort, OPeN and its partners reaffirm their shared commitment to building legislative institutions that are transparent, participatory, and inclusive. The outcomes of the Open Parliament Day in particular and of Open Americas 2024 in general serve as a roadmap for parliaments to lead by example in fostering trust, innovation, and civic engagement in the democratic process.
