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During the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous countries invoked different constitutional provisions and laws to respond to the unexpected health crisis. Constitutional INSIGHTS No. 6 examines the use and non-use of state of emergency powers by countries across Asia and the Pacific in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the implications for other democratic rights and processes.

To mark the International Democracy Day commemorated annually on 15 September, International IDEA, together with Perludem—a leading civil society organisation based in Indonesia—organized the International Conference on “Reforming Political Party Finance Systems in Southeast Asia: Towards Greater Transparency and Accountability” on 13 September 2021.

“We have to first recognize ourselves before being recognized by others.”

A statement made by one of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Champions from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), at the workshop on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Constitutions Assessment Tool (IPCAT) encapsulates the importance for indigenous peoples to unite in their ongoing struggle for recognition, autonomy and rights.

"As we are still learning about Covid and its changing nature, we need to ensure that policies and practices are flexible and responsive to support resilient elections and include a variety of scenarios and contingency plans."

Let’s talk about constitutions! is designed to present difficult constitutional concepts to non-specialist and young audiences in an entertaining and informative way. It has been developed to promote young people’s understanding of constitutional issues and thereby empower and inspire youth to play a full and meaningful part in their own constitution-building process.

Oversight by key government institutions can help to ensure that emergency spending is administered properly and efficiently.

International IDEA grieves for the recent violence in Afghanistan and the threats to democratic progress that the Taliban takeover represents. We urge for the protection and safeguarding of the most vulnerable and their rights, especially women, and continued respect for journalists, NGO workers, academics and other champions of democratic freedoms.

The fourth webinar , held on 29 July 2021, answers the question: “What’s happening to democracy in Melanesia?

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) hosted a side event on 15 July 2021; ‘Assessing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Constitutions’, at the 14th Session of the Expert Mechanisms on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP).

An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released on Monday shows, with clear and overwhelming scientific evidence, that climate change is a looming, existential threat for our planet. The massive climate changes that we are all starting to experience, from wildfires to extreme temperatures, are also a threat for democracy.

Public participation has become a core element of modern constitution-building. The question for leaders charged with designin

The third webinar of the Democratic Development in Melanesia Webinar Series was held on 24 June 2021 on electoral activism by civil society organisations using the experiences of Indonesia and the Philippines as examples.

Electoral management bodies (EMBs) around the world are currently faced with operational challenges and requirements for adaptations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While many voters look towards election day and their safety at the polls, EMBs have already begun work to ensure safe practices are implemented in pre-election day activities, including voter registration.

The Fijian General Election of 2018 was a significant one- it was only the second election held under a new electoral system and legal framework.

Mongolia’s presidential elections were concluded on 9 June 2021 with the party in government, the Mongolian People’s Party, consolidating power further by taking the presidency with a landslide victory. However, voter turnout declined very slightly compared to 2017 and young voters are still not coming to vote in droves.

Bidi Yolkey Rai, 28, struggles to conduct an online session on the importance of local government committees that deal with Covid-19, the climate impact on agriculture, or road construction. “मलाई सुनि राख्नु भएको छ?” (“Can you hear me?”) She asks from time to time.

“Press the mic there...no no, on your left…” 

"Oh, I was speaking all this all alone?” Laughter.

"Would you please mute your mic?”

“I should first know where the mic is!” Laughter.

“Am I audible?”

“Yes, yes, since the time you were scolding someone over the phone…” More laughter.

International IDEA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a Letter of Agreement initiating a partnership to support Timor-Leste’s electoral management bodies (EMBs) in preparing a manual and plan to conduct Covid-resilient elections under the project ‘Covid-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste’ funded by the Government of Japan.

This lecture deals with the intersection between three sets of challenges, each of which constitutes an existential threat to democracies across the world. The first is linked to money in politics, which poses the danger not only of ‘policy capture’ but also, in worse-case scenarios, of state capture by monied interests.

Forms of special voting arrangements (SVAs) conventionally include early, postal, online, proxy voting and use of mobile ballot boxes.