An ANFREL-Foundation Presentation Strengthening Democracies in Asia An ANFREL-Foundation Presentation Bidhayak Das

The Stakeholders of an EMB Individuals, groups and organizations that have an interest or ‘stake’ in the EMB’s operations. They can be classified either as primary stakeholders, who directly affect or are directly affected by the EMB’s activities, policies and practices, or as Secondary stakeholders, who have a looser connection with the EMB’s activities. Genuine and open dialogue with stakeholders can contribute to confidence in the electoral process and trust in the EMB’s activities

Key Players Political parties and candidates EMB staff Executive branch of government Legislatures Electoral dispute resolution bodies The judicial system Election monitors and domestic and international election observers The media The electorate – voters Civil society organizations and The donor community and electoral assistance agencies  

Common Ground Transparency Accountability Fairness Responsibility “Elections belong to us……………” Pat Merloe

Critical Players Elections monitors: Power to intervene and rectify shortcomings in the electoral process Domestic and International elections monitors: Do not have the powers to intervene and only document the process Civil Society Organisations Regional and International Networks (The Global Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Electoral Observation adopted by the United Nations and by global and regional organizations in October 2005)

Sustaining Relations It is important for an EMB to foster close cooperation with its stakeholders to ensure their support for its policies and programmes and to strengthen their confidence in what the EMB is doing. Unless the EMB works hard to create and sustain sound relations with its stakeholders, there are likely to be misunderstandings and suspicions about its activities. This may ultimately generate lack of public confidence and trust in the EMB and the electoral process.

Strengthening Democracies ANFREL’s CAPACITY BUILDING, ADVOCACY and CAMPAIGN Initiatives The making of the Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF) and the Bangkok Declaration

The Bangkok Declaration Strengthening Democracies The Bangkok Declaration

Bangkok Declaration: Possible Interventions Strengthening Democracies Bangkok Declaration: Possible Interventions Peer to Peer exchanges Translations in Local Languages Trainings on PIL/International Laws and Legal Framework Joint Electoral Forums

Strengthening Democracies So from the above it can be deduced that civil society, political parties and the media as well as international observers have a watchdog role to play in support of Electoral Management Bodies especially as concerns the integrity of these Bodies in terms of the legislative framework under which Electoral Management Bodies exercise control of the process; and the transparency and the efficiency of the Electoral Management Bodies in the exercise of their functions to meet the needs of the voting public of whatever ability.

THANK YOU