Freedom of information is the
individuals’ right to obtain and exchange information. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs relies on local laws and regulations that govern the right to access
information in matters of freedom of information.
Individuals can submit requests
to access information to the Ministry to obtain specific information, and the
Ministry is required to process these requests and charge a fee according to
applicable rules. The approval to provide public information must be
appropriate to the Ministry's circumstances, straightforward, clear, safe, and
free from sensitive data. The approval of the request to access information is
in accordance with the rules of the freedom of information policy, considering
that the data is available to everyone but with certain restrictions. Any
individual or public or private entity can submit a freedom of information
request.
The Freedom of Information Policy
does not apply to the following protected information:
- Information whose disclosure
could harm the national security, policies, interests, or rights of the state.
- Military and security
information.
- Information and documents
obtained under an agreement with another country and classified as protected.
- Inquires, investigations,
arrests, inspections, and surveillance of related to a crime, violation or
threat.
- Information that includes
recommendations, suggestions or consultations for a law or a government decree
that has not yet been issued.
- Commercial, industrial, financial, or economic information whose disclosure
would lead to illicit profit or the avoidance of a loss.
- Scientific or technical
research, or rights that include an intellectual property right, the disclosure
of which leads to the infringement of a moral right.
- Information related to tenders, bids and auctions, the disclosure of which
leads to unfair competition.
- Information that is
confidential or personal under another law, or that requires specific regulatory procedures to access or obtain.