2016-09-01

Gaza

Human Rights Defenders / Gaza

A series of encounters was conducted by MUSAWA, in cooperation with the Palestinian Human Rights Defenders (PHRDs) Network, the Lawyers for the Rule of Law Groups (friends of MUSAWA), and the Central Elections Commission (CEC). The encounters addressed the topic: “Mechanisms for Monitoring the Electoral Process”, and they were held at MUSAWA’s office in Gaza, targeting MUSAWA’s monitoring team which consists of lawyers, journalists, media figures and those interested. More than 85 local observers approved by MUSAWA’s central elections commission benefited from the trainings, 31 of whom were females.

The encounters were facilitated by Mr. Raed Al-Samooni, CEC’s Training Officer, along with lawyers Mohammad Al-Dahdooh, Adham Jaradah, Mohammad Sheikha and Kawthar Sider, and journalist Khadijah Matar; all of whom are members of the PHRDs Network.

The following topics were discussed and explained throughout the encounters: the concept of electoral systems; the types of electoral systems in Palestine (in relation to local elections and proportional representation); the reasons and mechanisms for monitoring the electoral system; who has the right to apply to be a certified monitoring body; the requirements that a local observer should meet; who has the right to apply to be a certified representative; the requirements that a representative should meet; the standards and principles; the rights of the observer and the representative when monitoring electoral processes; the obligations that observers and representatives should fulfill while monitoring electoral processes; who has the right to submit notes and/or complaints; when to file a complaint or submit a note; the elections-monitoring commission’s commitments; ending the certification of a monitoring body, observer or representative according to the certification procedures for local observers 2016, issued by the Palestinian CEC.

At the end, participants gave the following recommendations: all necessary procedures should be taken by the CEC for the completion of the electoral processes in a timely manner and in accordance with the law in all areas inside Palestine.

These encounters come as part of a project to empower Palestinian human rights defenders, conducted by MUSAWA in both the West Bank and Gaza, and supported by the EU.