Renata Avila, (Guatemalan), is an international Human Rights lawyer, specialising in the next wave of technological challenges to preserve and advance our rights, and better understand the politics of data and their implications on trade, democracy and society. She is an Affiliate with the Stanford Institute of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. She is an Advisory Board member for Creative Commons. She also serves as a Board Member of the Common Action Forum and a Global Trustee of the Think Tank Digital Future Society. She is an advisory member of the initiative Cities for Digital Rights. She co-founded the Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms, the Progressive International and the Polylateral Association, an international platform cooperative for knowledge workers. @avilarenata
Latest posts by Renata Avila
Argentina: Hackathons and Budget Transparency in Bahía Blanca
As we have witnessed in the last month, there are moments in civic life that drive citizens to change and challenge institutions, to create solutions and to express their concerns about things that matter. In a short interview with Renata Avila for the Technology for Transparency Network, Manuel Aristarian, an...
Guatemala: Challenges for First Female Public Prosecutor
Recent appointments of women to public administration and key political positions could shake the political scene in Guatemala. Furthermore, the appointment of the first female Public Prosecutor could help end impunity for crimes committed against women.
Cablegate: Lessons on tech for transparency
Wikileaks' release of over 250,000 United States embassy cables is one of the hottest subjects in media and government right now. Renata Avila looks at what Cablegate can teach us about technology for transparency.
Collaboration against Corruption: Upcoming Events
Four different technology for transparency-related initiatives will take place around the globe in the next month. Renata Avila provides a round up.
Technology for Transparency: Government Accountability in India
As the Technology for Transparency Network has mapped different transparency projects around the world, we have been excited to discover how enthusiasm for a more ethical and transparent society is flourishing everywhere. A protagonist of these changes is India, the largest, most diverse democracy in the world.
Guatemala: Access to Archives Sheds Light on Case of Forced Disappearance
Records and official archives are becoming tools to fight impunity, providing the evidence to prosecute perpetrators. Access to archives and databases helped shed light on a landmark case of forced disappearance in Guatemala.
Guatemala: Indigenous Teacher and Artist Kidnapped and Murdered
An increasing spiral of violence has impacted different communities in rural Guatemala. This time, the victim was a respected rural teacher, spiritual guide, dancer and artist from Sololá: Lisandro Guarcax.
Guatemala: Costa Rican Francisco Dall’Anese to Direct CICIG
Francisco Dall’Anese, Attorney General of Costa Rica, has been appointed to direct the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala. Bloggers provide context and analysis on how this new appointment will affect Guatemala.
Guatemala: State of Emergency Due to Tropical Storm Agatha
Guatemala is in a state of emergency. In addition to the active Pacaya volcano that has caused evacuations and damages, Tropical Storm Agatha has hit the country, causing many disappearances and deaths in the poorest regions.
Technology for Transparency, Civic Engagement and Accountability in Latin America
Latin America has a long history of corruption, organized crime, and impunity. However, the region also has a mature civil society and dozens of technology projects that are poised to disrupt the status quo if they are able to attract more offline participation.
Latin America: Free Software Installation Festival 2010
The 2010 edition of the Latin American Free Software Installation Festival (FLISOL) took place and was organized simultaneously in 20 countries and 250 cities all across the region.
Guatemala: A Tale of 2 Lakes, Macaws and a Queen
Environmental activists are concerned about the continued oil exploration in the Laguna del Tigre National Park, which is one of many natural lakes in Guatemala that contain biodiversity and which are under threat.
Guatemala: Secretary of State Clinton's Visit
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton completed her recent Latin American tour with a stop in Guatemala to discuss the fight against drug trafficking, as well as normalizing relations with Honduras.
Guatemala: United for Haiti After Earthquake
In 1976, an earthquake killed nearly 23,000 people in Guatemala. Now, 34 years later, Guatemalans are united to help Haitians with their own earthquake tragedy, through a wide variety of fundraising efforts and other signs of solidarity.
Guatemala: Investigation Reveals Rosenberg Masterminded His Own Murder
After an investigation by a UN commission, it was determined that Guatemalan lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg had masterminded his own murder, clearing President Álvaro Colom, who Rosenberg had accused in a video left behind after his death.
Western Sahara: Running the Sahara Marathon 2010
The Sahara Marathon is an international sport event to demonstrate solidarity with the Saharawi people and this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Many dedicated bloggers wrote about it to promote the event in different languages and even created blogs for this purpose.
Guatemala: The Film ‘Puro Mula’ Awarded at Havana Festival
Filmed in Guatemala, the movie 'Puro Mula' was recently awarded at Havana Film Festival. It is one of the works from the collective Best Picture System, which brings together artists from all across Latin America.
Guatemala: Stories and Artisan Crafts from The Ixil Triangle
Towns Santa María Nebaj, San Juan Cotzal and San Gaspar Chajul form the Ixil Triangle, located north of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. Because of its traditional hand-crafted clothing, the Chancol cheese, and its collection of myths and legends from the region, the place is one of the favorite destinations of hikers in Guatemala.
Central America: Saying No to Violence Against Women
Across Central America, online campaigns and activities to raise awareness about the issue of Violence Against Women are taking place across the region. Many of these efforts are attracting the interest and participation of bloggers who share their thoughts on this issue.
Guatemala: The Activism of Massacre Survivor Jesús Tecú
Jesús Tecú survived the Río Negro Massacre in Guatemala. Since then, he has worked as an advocate for the Achí Maya indigenous community. However, Tecú still is under threat, as he received a call from an extortionist.
Guatemala: For Some Artists, Picasso was Wrong
Some Guatemalan artists are out to prove that Pablo Picasso's quote "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers" is incorrect. For many, computers and the internet are the answers to a lack of spaces and galleries for relatively unknown artists who want to showcase their work to a larger and global audience.
