Despite the existence of laws, affirmative action initiatives and political party reforms, the participation and representation of women in politics remains underdeveloped.
A multitude of factors impede women’s participation on an equal basis with their male counterparts. One such factor is access to the financial resources needed to effectively participate in electoral processes as candidates.
Tunis, Tunisia | The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) was elected in 2011 and included 59 women out of 217 members. During the three-year rule of the NCA, the number of female members grew from 59 to 67 in 2014, as all male members of the government who left their posts were replaced by the candidate succeeding them on their respective list (built using a zip list system where male and female candidates alternate down the list).
Money is among the greatest threats to democracy in today’s politics, globally. Money determines the ability of candidates to compete and/or win an election. When it comes to the underlying factors behind gender inequalities in politics, the obstacles faced by women to raise or access funds is one of the greatest barriers compared to most of their male counterparts.
This report consists of five chapters, covering general areas in constitution building (including the separation of powers, fundamental rights, and decentralization) and some areas that are specifically relevant to Libya (including natural resources and corruption).
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and the Government of Botswana is holding the Annual Democracy Forum in Gaborone, Botswana 24-25 Nov. 2014. This year’s forum theme is “Fostering Democracy and Development through Sound Management of Natural Resources.”
In Tunisia, June 2014, International IDEA held a needs assessment workshop for representatives from eight civil society organizations. It focused on the importance of electoral observation and how their work can better include a gender focus.
On 26 October, the Tunisian people held their first-ever democratic and multiparty elections to elect the People’s Assembly legislature. In October 2011 Tunisia held elections to elect a constituent body (the National Constituent Assembly) mandated to deliver a democratic social contract after decades of an oppressive rule, and to fill in the legislative function for a transitory period only.
In the aftermath of what is commonly referred to as The Arab Spring – where brutal autocracies were over-thrown, today many of these same countries in the North Africa region are struggling with security issues and are seeing large-scale violence erupting throughout their territory. Whilst Tunisia is arguably one of the most stable countries in the region, security threats still loom large over Tunisia’s upcoming elections.
Electoral reform is an integral part of democratic development: it improves the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process and promotes the electoral rights of citizens through entrenching impartiality, inclusiveness and transparency. Evidence suggests continuous assessment and reform of the legal framework governing electoral processes is necessary in both old and new democracies.
In October and November 2014, Tunisia will hold parliamentary and presidential elections, the first after the adoption of the new constitution earlier this year. Both elections will be administered by The High Independent Election Commission in Tunisia (ISIE).
South Africa, 9 – 10 September, 2014
As South Africa celebrates 20 years of freedom and democracy, International IDEA is marking the occasion with a Democracy Roundtable event on 9 – 10 September entitled Marking Gains and Counting Losses in 20 Years of Democracy: Perspectives on Democratic Accountability in South Africa.
While many countries have addressed political party finance constitutionally, such provisions are usually phrased in general terms, leaving the details to law and to the regulations promulgated by enforcement agencies.
Legal reforms to political party finance systems are not a panacea: but when written and implemented well, the legal framework can help address significant challenges that face political party systems.
In context of IDEA’s support to the Africa Union Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and the IDEA-AU Joint Activity Plan (JPA), a project is currently being implemented to establish entry points to accelerate ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Governance and Elections.
At a time when political party dialogue is considered the only way forward in many polarized contexts within the Arab world, International IDEA is hosting a workshop on 24–25 June on the role of political party dialogue in democratic consolidation to stimulate discussion and share best practice.
This Discussion Paper analyses the constitution-building process that took place between 2008 and 2010 in Kenya, particularly the role and involvement of the African Union (AU), including its Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the AU Commission.
Non-acceptance of unconstitutional change of government (UCG) has become a central African norm since 1995.
For decades, non-interference in state affairs characterized politics in the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and became a cornerstone of inter-African relations. Against this historical backdrop, it is remarkable that the obligation to reject UCG was incorporated into the 2002 Constitutive Act of the OAU’s successor, the African Union (AU).
At a time when political party dialogue is considered the only way forward in many polarized contexts within the Arab world, International IDEA is hosting a workshop on 24–25 June on the role of political party dialogue in democratic consolidation to stimulate discussion and share best practice.
Since August 2013, IDEA has supported political parties in Kenya to develop their strategic plans using the Institute’s Strategic Planning Tool for Political Parties. This initial phase has now come to an end (April 2014) and the next step will be the implementation of these plans.
The Arab World is experiencing an unprecedented moment of constitutional transition. Many countries in the region are reforming their systems of constitutional judicial review as a way of signalling the government’s commitment to the rule of law. This includes establishing constitutional courts, a body with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional judicial review.
Over the last 60 years the Arab region has been dominated by strong presidents and weak legislatures. The democratic revolutions of the Arab Spring created an opportunity to reconstitute the political system.
