Organization

Its structure is defined in Title III of the Rules of Procedure of the RIPD.

The Presidency

Appointed by a simple majority of the Members present at the Closed Session, for a period of two years, renewable for a further two years. Currently, the Presidency holds the INAI (Instituto Nacional de Transparencia, Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales), for the period 2023-2025.

Functions of the Presidency (Article 8 of the Rules of Procedure):

  • Represent the RIPD in all national or international forums dealing with data protection issues. 
  • Promote and support in the national Legislative Chambers of the countries of the Ibero-American environment all those legislative initiatives related to data protection. 
  • Promote and represent the RIPD before the different social actors that operate in Ibero-America and whose activity affects this fundamental right. 
  • Chair Executive Committee meetings

The Permanent Secretariat

It corresponds to the Agencia Española de Protección de Datos.

Functions of the Permanent Secretariat (Article 10 of the Rules of Procedure):

  • Maintaining an ongoing relationship with the Executive Committee
  • Establish contacts with national and international bodies, like-minded and cooperating institutions in order to manage possible technical and logistical support for the performance of the activities of the RIPD.
  • Carry out, together with the Working Groups, the development of the decisions and projects approved in Closed Session.
  • Seek open communication and exchange of information among the members of the RIPD, taking into account their initiatives and proposals.
  • Promote and coordinate the activities of the Seminars and Working Groups.
  • Instruct applications to join the RIPD of new members.
  • Convene and collaborate in the organisation of DPIAs.
  • Process invitations from experts and observers to RIPD events.

The Executive Committee

It is made up of the Presidency, the Permanent Secretariat and four Memberships, which currently correspond to: Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay. In countries where there are different territorial entities that have the status of Members of the RIPD, the national entities will have the status of common representative before the Executive Committee. The term of office is two years.

Tasks of the Executive Board (Article 9 of the Rules of Procedure):

  • Approve the RIPD work programme for the following year.
  • Promote the necessary actions for the celebration of the Closed Sessions.
  • Attend meetings, seminars and other RIPD events held during the exercise and decide on issues related to the operation and activities of the RIPD.
  • To approve the constitution of the Working Groups.
  • Cooperate actively and regularly with the Permanent Secretariat in the performance of its functions.

RIPD Members met in Closed Session

It is the General Assembly of the Network, where the most relevant decisions are taken. It is composed of Members and Observers, although only the former have a voice and vote. Civil society organisations and data protection specialists may also participate as experts, by invitation, with voice and without vote. The invitation shall be made by the Executive Committee prior to each closed session.

Decisions shall be taken by consensus and, where this is not possible, by a majority of the votes cast, with the exception of abstentions. Only one vote may be cast for each country. When more than one member from the same country attends the Closed Session, the vote will be cast by the national entity as common representative.

Closed meeting (Article 12 of the Rules of Procedure):

  • Elect the President of the RIPD and the Executive Committee.
  • Define the strategic direction of the RIPD.
  • Establish appropriate Working Groups.
  • Discuss and, where appropriate, vote on the proposed resolutions and declarations.
  • Adopt the reports submitted by the Executive Committee and Working Groups.
  • Decide on the admission and review of RIPD Membership, in accordance with the rules and principles contained in these Rules.