This Policy Paper aims to fill a significant gap in the policy and academic literature on the process and design of interim constitutions in conflict-affected settings.
It argues that, unlike both peace agreements and interim arrangements, the strength of interim constitutions lies in their legal enforceability. It examines the diversity of post-1990 interim constitutions in terms of their structure and their role in broader peacebuilding processes.
Regional organizations have an important role to play in the achievement of the United Nations global goals. They can support member states with the design of action plans for sustainable development, but also they can play a key role in monitoring the implementation of these commitments.
However, across the globe there is a growing skepticism among citizens about the effectiveness of the work of regional organizations and their relevance to people’s lives.
Ahead of the April 2016 general elections in Macedonia, the Macedonian State Election Commission (SEC) received training and technical assistance in how to use International IDEA’s Electoral Risk Management Tool (ERM Tool).
The second International IDEA Member States EMB Dialogue will take place on 30 November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event will provide space for exchange between International IDEA’s Member States and its Electoral Processes Programme.
International IDEA has been working closely with the Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) since it was established in 2014, providing trainings and technical support both ahead of and following the 2014 parliamentary and presidential elections.
Our heartfelt condolences go to the families who lost their loved ones in the terrorist attacks in Beirut on 12 November and in Paris on 13 November. We are together with them in their mourning.
International IDEA joins the international community in condemning these shameful acts of terrorism. We stand together with Lebanon and France and their citizens in meeting the aftermath of these attacks.
On 6 December, Venezuelans will go to the polls to elect a new National Assembly at a pivotal moment in the country's history. This election is important not only for Venezuela, but for the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean as well.
More than 11,000 domestic observers and 1,000 international observers were accredited to observe the general elections of 8 November in Myanmar. Among these numbers were 19 ASEAN representatives from electoral management bodies (EMBs) from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Timor-Leste as well as three representatives from the ASEAN secretariat.
Political instability is often associated with frequent changes of government.
Frequent changes of government may act as a barrier to sustainable human development and make it more difficult for governments to be accountable. Changes of government occur often in a number of Pacific Island states, in particular Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
After almost a decade-long process of political bickering and multi-stakeholder dialogues, Nepal adopted a new constitution on 20 September. The constitution provides for a federal system of government, as opposed to the previous unitary state system. Nepal is now a federation that will be comprised of seven states, each with a legislature and chief minister.
Citizen protest movements too often distance themselves from politics. Just like political parties, they have a role to play to improve their country’s political system, and not just reject it.
This was one observation coming out of a recent workshop organized by International IDEA on how citizen movements impact political parties and how parties can respond.
Citizen protest movements too often distance themselves from politics. Just like political parties, they have a role to play to improve their country’s political system, and not just reject it.
This was one observation coming out of a recent workshop organized by International IDEA on how citizen movements impact political parties and how parties can respond.
The Africa Programme and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) are hosting the Conference on Political Parties in a Fast Changing, Technology Driven Environment, in Addis Ababa from 10-12 December.
Communications training has become firmly established as a necessity in many democracies. As a young democracy and with relatively inexperienced law makers who have little knowledge of communication strategies there is a strong need for media training and capacity building in Bhutan.
The 2016 Zambia elections will take place in a unique context following an economic recession and coming at a time when Zambia is trying to work out a new constitution.
Electoral stakeholders in Seychelles are gearing up for the snap presidential election scheduled for 3-5 December. With candidate registration taking place in mid-November, this small island state of approximately 90,000 inhabitants is expecting more candidates in this race than ever before.
Last Thursday morning, IDEA’s Myanmar country Head of Office Jorge Valladares walked into the IDEA office at the Union Election Commission in Naypyitaw to find makeshift beds and half-drunk cups of coffee. The team had been up all night working with UEC staff to scrutinize election observers, and they had no plans of quitting anytime soon.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom continues to support credible, transparent and inclusive elections in Myanmar.
Last Sunday, 25 October, elections were held in several Latin American countries. Two presidential elections – first round in Argentina and the runoff election in Guatemala – as well as important local elections in Colombia, the result of which should be understood in light of both the ongoing peace process and the 2018 presidential election.
