International IDEA condemns the coup by Myanmar’s military and expresses our deep concern for the detentions of President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Election Commission Chairman U Hla Thein, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and civil society leaders, calling for their immediate release. We urge the military to fully respect, in words and in practice, the results of the recent parliamentary elections.
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International IDEA’s Annual Review of Constitution-Building provides a retrospective account of constitutional transitions around the world, the issues that drive them, and their implications for national and international politics.
The Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr Kevin Casa-Zamora sent this letter dated 16 October 2020 to H.E. U Hla Thein, Chairman of Union Election Commission of Myanmar on the mVoter2020 application.
H.E. U Hla Thein
Chairman
Union Election Commission
Your Excellency,
International IDEA presents its compliments to H.E. U Hla Thein, Honorable Chairman of the Union Election Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
Statement from the Board of Advisors on International IDEA’s role in Myanmar
Dear Member States,
International IDEA has paid close attention to the concerns that many domestic and international actors as well as civil society have expressed on the voter education tool mVoter2020. International IDEA has been in communication with the Myanmar’s Union Election Commission (UEC) relaying these concerns and suggesting that information on any candidate’s ethnicity and religion be eliminated from the application.
On 29 September, the Union Election Commission of Myanmar launched a mobile application mVoter2020 in order to provide information on candidates for the November 2020 general elections as well as voter education. The content of the app is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission under the applicable law and regulations of Myanmar.
The inclusion and participation of combatants in constitution-building processes raises a number of distinctive issues.
Constitutional INSIGHTS No. 5 examines the rationales for including combatants in constitution-building, the challenges this presents and some of the mechanisms that might be used to support their participation in constitution-building processes.
Direct public participation is a feature of almost every exercise in constitution-building in the 21st century.
This issue of Constitutional INSIGHTS examines three different forms of direct public participation in constitution-building—consultation, deliberation and decision-making—and identifies ways to promote inclusive and meaningful direct public participation.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Constitutions Assessment Tool helps users to analyse a constitution from the perspective of indigenous peoples’ rights.
International IDEA's Country Director in Myanmar Mark McDowell asks Parvinder Singh, Senior Programme Manager - Elections at International IDEA Myanmar about his experience providing technical advice to the National Election Commission of Liberia during the elections of 2014, in the shadow of the nation's Ebola pandemic.
Parliaments and Crisis: Challenges and Innovations is the new Parliamentary Primer produced by the INTER PARES project, funded by the European Union and delivered by International IDEA. Written in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the Primer looks at how democratic parliaments play a crucial role in making good decisions and protecting citizens’ rights during a crisis.
Protecting the integrity of electoral campaign financing
Training manual builds capacity ahead of the general elections in Myanmar.
Members of Parliament discuss constitutional reform, supported by International IDEA’s trusted knowledge resources and workshops
Creating women’s wings within political parties allows women greater influence over policymaking
COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on countries and states as to whether to hold or postpone scheduled elections, amid controversies in either case.
Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution is hard to amend. It includes a high parliamentary threshold: to pass any amendment proposal more than 75 per cent of parliamentarians need to approve, and also entrenches an effective veto power for the armed forces of Myanmar (the Tatmadaw).
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this commentary are those of the staff member. This commentary is independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed do not necessarily represent the institutional position of International IDEA, its Board of Advisers or its Council of Member States.
International law is an increasingly relevant consideration in constitution-building.
It is therefore helpful for a constitution to prescribe the effect of international law in domestic law. If all or some international law has automatic effect, it is helpful for the constitution to describe its position in the hierarchy of domestic law.
Funding of political parties and candidates is a necessary component of political participation and representation. Yet, if such political finance systems are not effectively regulated, money could be used to undermine the integrity of political processes and institutions.