Ulaanbaatar, or the “Red Hero” as it means in Mongolian, was the last stop for International IDEA’s Election Tech Tour of Asia 2016. Mongolia, which joined International IDEA in 2011, took the chairship only five years later, thus affirming its commitment to supporting sustainable democracy worldwide. One of its missions as chair is to share knowledge and experiences on the use of technology in elections.
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The Secretary-General of International IDEA Yves Leterme, travelled on an official state visit to Santiago, Chile, to inaugurate International IDEA’s new regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean on 3 October. The office is relocating to Santiago, Chile from San Jose, Costa Rica, thanks to the generous support of the Government of Chile.
On 3 October 2016, the Spanish version of "Democratic Transitions: Conversations with World Leaders” was launched in Santiago, Chile, in the presence of more than 100 participants from the public and non-governmental sector in Chile. The launch included a panel discussion focused on the lessons learned from the Chilean transition to democracy.
The digitalization of all aspects of our lives has contributed to dramatically change the context for inter-personal and political communication, agenda-setting and policymaking.
On September 30, an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding between International IDEA and the Myanmar Union Election Commission (UEC) was signed by His Excellency UEC Chairman U Hla Thein and Yves Leterme, Secretary-General of International IDEA, at International IDEA’s Headquarters in Strömsborg, Stockholm. The agreement extends the collaborative partnership between International IDEA and the UEC until 2021.
ADDIS ABABA - As part of their ongoing efforts to support the consolidation of sustainable democracy in Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) are jointly organizing a technical workshop on “Civil Registration and Elections in Africa” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from September 29 to 1 October 2016.
Philippine policy makers and civil society have interesting discussions ahead about the role of technology in elections. What are the needs? What needs to be done differently? What needs to be improved? What new goals are to be achieved? These questions guided discussions as International IDEA’s Election Tech Tour of Asia moved on to Manila, the Philippines.
The low level of youth participation in political life is one of the biggest challenges facing representational democracy across the globe. In recent years, many countries have seen a sharp increase in their youth population. Over half the world’s population of 7.4 billion is currently aged between 20 and 44. In Africa, a combination of high fertility rates and low life expectancy has resulted in a “youth bulge”.
By Anna Brito
Political parties are in crisis. Party membership and voter turnout are very much in decline around the world. The rise of social media has allowed citizen movements to become more frequent, leaving formal political institutions struggling to maintain relevance. Political parties are central actors in a representative democracy, but they must adjust to the changing social and political climate.
In recent years technological advances have changed the basis of many activities. Banks around the world are closing offices and focusing their services on online applications. They know one thing for certain: few young people visit their branches anymore. Most prefer to bank using their computers or even their smartphones.
Today 43 families are mourning in Mexico. In fact, the whole country is looking back at what happened exactly two years ago to the Ayotzinapa students.
![Participant addressing the panel at forum, 01.09.2016, Manila, Philippines Credit: UPCIDS Participant addressing the panel at forum, 01.09.2016, Manila, Philippines Credit: UPCIDS](http://www.oldsite.idea.int/asia_pacific/indonesia/images/image001.jpg)
Elections are essential elements of democratic systems.
Political parties are the centrepiece of political representation in democratic systems.
‘Democracy that delivers’ is a catchphrase that summarizes many citizens’ hopes for democratic systems.
Participation offers an opportunity to steer political priorities towards socio-economic development for all. In order to provide this for all people, democratic values and principles need to spread from governments to the everyday life of citizens.
An Android-based app for quick reporting of possible election violations, e-voting through personal computers (in more than 500 village chief elections) and an interest from the President’s Executive Office in using technology to ensure elections are conducted with integrity. Put these elements together and it’s clear that Indonesia has holds technology in high regard to help improve the electoral process, making it the ideal first stop in International IDEA’s Election Tech Tour of Asia.
Electronic voting, biometric registration and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) are increasingly used by electoral management bodies around the world. But do electronic voting systems and complex registration systems have the trust, efficiency and transparency that the public so demands?
ADDIS ABABA – Dans le cadre de leur partenariat pour la consolidation de la démocratie en Afrique, la Commission de l’Union africaine (CUA), l’Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) et l’Institut International pour la Démocratie et l’Assistance Electorale (International (IDEA), organisent à Addis-Abeba (Ethiopie), du 29 septembre au 1 octobre 2016, un atelier technique sur le thème « Les registres d’état civil et les élections en Afrique ».
Judiciaries have become increasingly important actors in constitution-making and democracy-building, whether a state seeks to strengthen democracy or transition from undemocratic to democratic rule.