Ambassador Garza Recognizes Dr. Ernesto Villanueva

Mexico City, May 19, 2004 – On April 14, 2004, Dr. Villanueva received the “Honor for Support of Journalism Award” from the Trust for the Americas, a foundation that is part of the Organization of American States. This year the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the award continuing the U.S. Embassy’s support over the years for the movement for public access to information.

“Access to information is one of the pillars of democratic societies,” said U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza. “The untiring work of Ernesto Villanueva that contributed to the passage of the Access to Information Law is an outstanding achievement that will make democracy in Mexico stronger.”

In honor of Dr. Villanueva, Ambassador Garza hosted a reception on May 18 during which he recognized the efforts of Dr. Ernesto Villanueva and others who led the movement for access to information in Mexico culminating in the passage of the Access to Information Law of June 2002.

Dr. Villanueva is the director of the nonprofit organization Libertad de Información, Mexico- A.C. (LIMAC) and was one of the original members of the Grupo Oaxaca, a distinguished group of academics, journalists and others who spearheaded the movement for access to information.

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