I. Electoral Assistance
“Electoral systems determine how power is allocated among contenders. Electoral systems can also create or accentuate other cleavages, for example through the division into constituencies, and have an impact on the way candidates and political parties craft their appeals to the electorate. In this context, elections can bring to the fore deep rooted grievances, resulting in political violence if the electoral system itself is seen to reinforce real or perceived inequalities or marginalization.” –Dr. Mohamad Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS)
Introduction [2 paragraphs, including footnotes]
Democracy is “a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives.” A pivotal component of democracy is a fair election process; elections are how governments obtain their democratic mandate and are held accountable for their performance.
Electoral assistance is a tool for the promotion of democracy provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and overseen by the General Assembly (GA) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). There are two primary goals for the UN’s approach to electoral assistance: 1) to assist Member States in their efforts to hold credible and legitimate elections in accordance with internationally recognized standards and; 2) to contribute to building, in the recipient country, a sustainable institutional capacity to organize democratic elections that are genuine and have full confidence of the contending parties and the electorate.
Critical issues to keep in mind when approaching electoral assistance is the consideration of underrepresented groups and their participation, the role of the rule of law as a tool for implementation of electoral assistance, and electoral assistance’s role in post-conflict rebuilding of Member States.
International Framework [1 page, including footnotes]
The precedent for electoral assistance was set when the right to vote was declared a human right in Article 21 the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (YEAR). Specifically Article 21.3 states that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government; this will be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or equivalent free voting procedures.”
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which entered into force in 1976, states that those States signing would uphold its Article 2 by the implementation of Article 25, stating that: every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing free expression of the will of the electors.
• The Convention of Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the GA in 1979 and is often referred to as an international bill of rights for women. Part II, Article 7.a notes that Member States that sign onto CEDAW must take all measures to ensure the right to vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all public functions at all levels of government.
• The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discriminations (CERD) entered into force in 1965. In Article 5.c the political right to vote is ensured by requiring that State Parties must enforce the right to partake in elections- to vote and to stand for election-on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, to take part in the government as well as conduct of public affairs at any level and have equal access to public service.
• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) entered into force in 2008. A large part of what this convention did was shift the language surrounding persons with disabilities from objects to subjects. This allowed for the convention to outline in Article 29 the right to equal and accessible participation in public life.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) is a plan of action for sustainable development outlined in resolution 70/1 which was adopted by the GA in 2015. The 2030 Agenda articulates 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) and 169 related targets for all Member States work to achieve as part of national sustainable development efforts. Implementation is measured through a voluntary Member State-led and Member State-driven follow-up and review mechanism, which calls on Member States to report on progress annually, including through the provision of data on the 230 individual statistical indicators associated with the goals and targets.
Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs directly contributes towards Electoral Assistance. Further, there are linkages between the SDGs and Electoral Assistance which promote the overall welfare of democracies throughout the world.
Goal(s)
Target(s)
Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
16.B: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
17.1: Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing Member States, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection
17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing Member States to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation
Role of United Nations Development Programme [~1 page, including table + footnotes]
The UNDP has been included in the discussion of electoral assistance since 1991 as established by the General Assembly in A/RES/46/137 (1991).
There are specific types of electoral assistance that the UNDP is able to provide, which are always changing to best support the needs of Member States. The types of assistance available are: technical assistance, support to creating a conducive environment, organization and conduct of an electoral process, certification/verification, electoral observance, supervision of elections, panels of political and/or electoral experts, and coordination of electoral observers.
Outcome Documents Adopted by the United Nations Development Programme on this topic
Year
Agenda Item / Title
Code
Key Points
2017
Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization
A/RES/72/164
• A response to the report of the Third Committee (A/72/439/Add.2)
• Reaffirmation of commitment to international covenants to include underrepresented groups in the democratic and electoral process
2015
Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization
A/RES/70/168
• A response to the report of the Third Committee (A/70/489.Add.2)
• Affirming the role of democracy in the SDGs and in human rights development
2013
Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization
A/RES/68/164
• A response to the report of the Third Committee (A/68/456/Add.2)
• Request for more transparent information on electoral assistance and the processes going on in Member States
• Recognizing the need for more support in the entire electoral cycle and related processes
Role of the International Community [~1 page, including bullet points + footnotes]
Every person in a democratic society is affected by the processes of the election cycle and its outcomes, and the international community plays a vital role in the support of electoral assistance. The types of support generally being provided by the international community involve volunteers, technical support, continued observation and reporting of trends, and providing capacity building strategies to support States’ abilities to support themselves moving forward. Various organizations provide support ranging from providing free information on elections, acting as unbiased observers, and hands-on support in Member States to help insure a fair election process. Some examples include:
• International Foundations for Electoral Systems (IFES): IEFS helps to provide programming and accountability in areas of democracy, governance, and elections around the world. Their programs include areas’ electoral management, electoral law, participation and inclusion, and research and publications.
• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA): IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide, formed in 1995. Its membership is made up of governments who demonstrate their commitment to rule of law, human rights, the basic principles of democratic pluralism and strengthening democracy.
• ACE: The Electoral Knowledge Network (ACE): ACE was launched in 1998 by the International IDEA, IFES, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and became the first online resource for elections. Its mandate includes providing expert advice to elections around the world, providing comparative data, a virtual library of electoral materials, professional development, and more.
• National Democratic Institute (NDI): The NDI was founded in 1983 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes peoples’ ability to participate and live in democratic societies and promote basic human rights. They work to strengthen democratic institutions and practices by strengthening political parties, civic organizations and parliaments, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation.
• European Union and UNDP Joint Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF): In 2008, the de facto partnership between the EU and the UNDP was formalized by the signing of the “Operational Guidelines on the Implementation of Electoral Assistance Projects and Programmes.” As a part of the Global Project for Electoral Cycle Support (GSPECS) Phase II (2015-2017), the JTF was created because the EC and UNDP share a vision towards the virtues of democratic governance and elections.
Key Issues [~ 3 pages, including footnotes]
Key Issue #1 Improving Civic Engagement and Reducing Voter Suppression of Underrepresented Populations [~ 1 page, including footnotes]
The UNDP aims to provide an environment for civic action and to develop the capacity of all civil society actors. A focus of the UNDP is to also work to improve the public engagement and meaningful participation of the minority groups that have historically experienced discrimination. Minority groups including women, persons with disabilities, youth, indigenous groups, and ethnic and religious minorities are often barred from voting or simply lack access to the election systems within their Member States.
Despite over half of the world’s population being under the age of 30, youth are not the center of political decision making. Moving forward to continue to support fair elections, the increased participation of youth is pivotal. An example of how the UNDP has established the importance of youth engagement can be seen in the ‘Strategy of Response to Transformative Change in the Arab Region,’ following the peaceful youth-led demonstrations in the Arab world in 2011. Participating in civic engagement in as youth sets individuals up for a more meaningful lifetime of civic engagement. Pragmatically, if youth have the perception that formal political processes are inaccessible to them, it can change their attitudes towards engagement and affect their Member State in the long run. Strategies that support youth-specific engagement are similar to those that will also be effective for other underrepresented groups.
In order to help combat continued discrimination in the civic engagement of, the UNDP hosts the UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) and the UN Indigenous Peoples Partnership (UNIPP). The UNPRPD works to fully realize the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). All States Parties signed onto the CRPD are meant to guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to enjoy full and equal political rights and opportunities, according to Article 29. Moving forward there are key characteristics that need to be addressed: transparency, rights based, accountable, youth friendly/relevant, inclusive, voluntary, and safe. Providing support for underrepresented groups to engage in their governments is pivotal to a sustained, stable democracy. The UNDP sees both the disproportionate social, economic, and political barriers youth face, and finds that in order to unlock youth’s full potential will include a joint effort from youth organizations and actors from civil society, the private sector, governments, and parts of the UN system in order to promote youth-focused and youth-led development.
Key Issue #2 Promoting Post-Conflict Rebuilding Efforts [~ 1 page, including footnotes]
When looking at regions and Member States post-conflict, the rebuilding efforts can be made or broken by the election process when moving towards a new government. Looking at some of the previous projects facilitated by the UNDP provides real world examples of why electoral assistance is needed and what it can provide to Member States, especially those rebuilding. Member States like Afghanistan and Libya provide examples of different ways the UNDP has engaged in electoral assistance to help provide confidence in the incoming governments.
• Afghanistan: due to years of armed conflict, the fragility of Afghanistan’s economy, physical, social, and institutional structures needed to be taken into account in order to support a new election process. The main type of electoral assistance provided was technical. The main outcomes in 2006-2011 were largely in favor of the female population in Afghanistan, bringing in record numbers of female candidates and allowed for 27% of seats to be won by these female candidates. Again assistance was provided from 2012-2015, which continued to see an increase in female participation as candidates and voters.
• Libya: UNDP engagement in Libya was provided from 2012-2014 to support the country’s first free, multi-party parliamentary elections in six decades. The goal was to help strengthen their legal and institutional capacity to conduct credible elections. The UNDP worked with NGOs to engage voters, and the results showed that out of the 3.5 million registered voters, 2.8 million voted, and 1.3 million were women.The UNDP also helped provide 8,900 polling kits, 25,000 voting booths, and over 8 million ballots.
In order to continue to support post-conflict regions and Member States in their electoral process, it is important to see what has helped provide positive outcomes, such as the work done in Afghanistan and Libya. In 2000, the Security Council (SC) passed the first resolution outlining the role of women in peace and security, and subsequently more were passed in 2009, 2013, and 2015. As transformative a tool as elections are, making sure that wherever the UNDP goes in they are continuing to promote sustainable and inclusive democracies to ensure Member States’ ability to replicate fair elections in the future.
Key Issue #3 Engaging Rule of Law [~ 1 page, including footnotes]
The OHCHR defines the Rule of Law (ROL) as a focal point to one of the fundamental core values of the UN: democracy. The role of the ROL in democracy outlines what is and is not allowed and is used to protect and ensure the human rights outlined in the UDHR. The ROL essentially levels the playing field, especially from a human rights perspective, because it states that everyone from the highest level of government down, is to be held to the same standards.The Human Rights Council (HRC) has adopted a number of resolutions discussing the role of ROL in democracy and human rights, including A/HRC/RES/28/14 (2015), which established a forum to “identify and analyze best practices, challenges and opportunities for States in their efforts to secure respect for human rights, democracy and rule of law.”
The challenges towards the desired application of ROL, which is equal weight for all those engaging in civic society, include weak institutions caused by autocracy, inefficiency of Parliamentary procedures, and lack of transparency, which leaves States weak to corruption. The UNDP has opportunities to fill the holes and help provide capacity building support in order to detract from the degradation of equal applicability of the ROL, and it can do that by providing volunteers to help oversee elections, ensuring fairness, providing technical training for citizens of the Member State, and by providing materials to help ensure the application of ROL. “The empowerment and involvement of civil society in the practice of democracy is essential to its good functioning.”
Conclusion [1 paragraph]
Electoral assistance is a pivotal part of what the UN can do to support Member States, especially those in transition from conflict. The variety of ways that the UNDP provides this service makes it accessible and useful for all Member States, regardless of their level of development, and the focus topics and key issues provide a look into how exactly all these cogs play together to create a system that supports people, human rights, human dignity, and successful democratization throughout all societies.
• What can the UNDP do to continue to support capacity building in post-conflict Member States? How can the engagement of underrepresented groups be used to improve the speed at which these Member States can rebuild and thrive, becoming self-sufficient?
• Are there more creative forms of electoral assistance that could be implemented to support more challenging elections?
• Please add one more question 😊
Bibliography
I. Title of Topic
Key Documents
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Hi Terrah,
Great progress here as well! My main points just involve connecting things back to the topic or clarifying what exactly you’re talking about. I think we’re on the right track with these key issues. Thanks for your continued work on this! Let me know if you have any questions!
-Katie