GNRD Congratulates Tunisia’s Peaceful Presidential Election: Calm Transition to Democracy Continues gnrd.net/seemore.php?id=1222 Tunis, Tunisia, December 22nd, 2014 – The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) has a sincere pleasure to congratulate the Tunisian people with the peaceful and in general correctly implemented from the procedural point of view Presidential elections. We are also grateful to the Tunisian authority to accredit the GNRD and other international organizations to observe the Presidential elections so to contribute to their transparency and support the Tunisian citizens’ right to vote. The Presidential election, considered a critical political tipping point in the transition to democracy came to fruition without major incident last evening. Here, and across the Arab World, this country took the final step in and commitment to the unfolding process of democracy for its people. The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD) and its collaborative partner, the International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights (IIPJHR) deployed 150 international observers and experts from 22 countries and were present for observation at 129 polling stations. Observers reported that there was a high voter turnout especially in the early morning hours as the polling stations “opened” according to Tunisia’s electoral procedures. In some instances the polling stations did not open on time. Largely, the atmosphere of the polling centers was peaceful and the procedures were carried out in an orderly manner. It was evident that ISIE had taken several steps to improve the quality of the voting procedures and incorporated some of the feedback received from the Parliamentary elections that were held in October of this year. Overall, GNRD/ IIPJHR observers were given free access to polling stations and provided with all the necessary information that requested and required to complete the statistically designed checklists for this mission. Once this data collection is complete, it is these checklists that are analyzed and converted into a formal report, including recommendations that are presented to the government of Tunisia, and other bodies – and also available on the GNRD website (gnrd.net). This report will be finalized and released early in 2015. During this day of elections, GNRD/ IIPJHR observers reported that campaign materials and activities were present in a small number of polling stations and just outside polling centers, and in several instances it was recorded that a number voters could not find their names on the voter’s list and therefore were not allowed to vote. Providing ease of access for elderly and disabled people, as well as clear instruction and assistance for illiterate people were consistent themes in the recommendations’ section of the data collection. Of the 1322 voters observed by GNRD/ IIPJHR teams, there were 513 women as they exercised their right to vote. There was a strong presence of women involved in polling administration, although just less than a third of observed heads of polling staff were women. GNRD/ IIPJHR teams observed over 203 youth voters across the country and often arrived at polling stations later in the afternoon and early evening. The closing and counting process went smoothly in the majority of observed polling stations with only minor errors observed. GNRD/ IIPJHR Observation Recommendations: -- Design and deliver results-oriented programmes for youth and women, which would encourage a higher percentage of voter turnout in these demographic categories. Programmes such as empowerment and employment programmes that would create income-generating activities for each of these groups. This would be a catalyst to reinstate and in some cases be a catalyst for confidence in youth and women. -- Incorporate a day of “Advanced Polls” into the Election process; this would be held a before election day and allow Tunisians who must work on the formal election day, and allow an opportunity for them to exercise their right to vote. -- Allow candidate representatives to conduct media interviews with international media. -- Choose an election date that is free of interference of other responsibilities, such as dates public holidays, end of school terms, social events and festivals to encourage higher voter turnout. -- Review the signature system with regard to running for presidency and improve the monitoring and transparency of this process. The GNRD/ IIPJHR joint mission teams will continues to demonstrate their commitment to this support democratic shift – and especially support Tunisian citizens in their right to vote. It is the hope of the combination of these robust mission objectives that will assist in the continued positive transformation of the lives of the Tunisian people and the democratic development of the country.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:14:08 +0000
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