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;Yemen
;Yemen
IFES actively supports the increased rights of women into Yemen's [[Assembly of Representatives ]] with the help of the [[European Union]] and the Cultural Development Fund.<ref> [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=upi20090510-204013-6388&show_article=1 Program of supporting women's access to parliament launched]. Accessed June 26, 2009</ref>
IFES actively supports the increased rights of women into Yemen's [[Assembly of Representatives ]] with the help of the [[European Union]] and the Cultural Development Fund.<ref> [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=upi20090510-204013-6388&show_article=1 Program of supporting women's access to parliament launched]. Accessed June 26, 2009</ref>

;West Bank/Gaza
{{See|Elections Reform Support Group}}
IFES has been an active contractor since 2003 with the Elections Reform Support Group, which is an international initiative to support the Reform of elections in Lebenon. .<ref name = "IFES_WB&G">http://www.ifes.org/westbankgaza.html?page=past IFES-West Bank/Gaza. Accessed June 30, 2006</ref><ref name = "UNDP PAPP">[http://www.undp.org/governance/eventsites/electoral-manila/files/UNDP%2520PAPP%2520democratic%2520elections.doc+Elections+Reform+Support+Group+(ERSG)&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us] UNDP/PAPP Support to the Electoral Process in Palestine. Accessed June 30, 2009</ref> This intiative, a cooperative between the Quartet and the UN, wants to move forward with safe and democratic electiosn in this region.


==Acting as a voice for Democratic Initiatives==
==Acting as a voice for Democratic Initiatives==

Revision as of 14:14, 2 July 2009

IFES, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, is an international, non-profit, Washington, DC-based organization that "supports the building of democratic societies". Founded in 1987, IFES has 200 employees with field offices in more than 21 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. IFES participates in technical assistance projects for international and bilateral donor organizations such as USAID, the UN, DFID, the OSCE and others. Since 1987, IFES has worked with election assistance and democratic development in over 100 countries.

The current president of IFES is Bill Sweeney, is a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).[1] He replaced Jean-Pierre Kingsley in 2009, the former chief election officer of Canada.[2] [3]

IFES receives funding from the following governments/organizations:

  • the US government
  • Canadian International Development Agency
  • Swedish International Development Agency
  • Finnish International Development Agency
  • British Department for International Development
  • private contributions

Areas of activity

  • Electoral Processes: - IFES provides technical assistance to governments, political parties and civil society organizations in election planning and administration, electoral law development, and voter education.[4] [5]
  • Civil Society- IFES states that civil society, which contains two parts: citizens understanding the rights and all citizens being included in the govermental proces, is integral to their operations. In puruit of this they encourage the growth and establishment of organizations tha promote these ideas.[6]
  • Rule of Law - IFES states "Every citizen of every country deserves the opportunity to live under the Rule of Law, and every country has an obligation to enforce the law fairly and effectively."[7] They propose to do this through the establishment of judicial independence, judicial enforcement, transparency, accountability, open government, access to information, whistle blowing, coalition building and human rights.[7]
  • Good Governance - IFES states that "Good governance prevails when government officials manage public institutions in an efficient, transparent manner that is responsive to citizens’ concerns. It also requires that citizens work collaboratively with officials in the pursuit of common social, political, economic and cultural goals."[8] They propose to increase good governance in their realms of activity by "(1) fostering dialogue among government agencies, political parties and civil society organizations; (2) designing programs to increase public participation in the decision-making process; (3) offering government institutions research-based public policy guidelines; and (4) promoting responsive, transparent and accountable governance at the national, regional and local levels."

Voters rights

The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) is committed to extending the reach of democracy through technical assistance and support to governmental and nongovernmental organizations in new and emerging democracies[9] by providing professional advice and technical assistance in promoting democracy and serves as an information clearinghouse on elections, rule of law, governance, and civil society.[10] The key fields of Voters Rights:[11]

  • My Right to be heard by my government
  • My Right to vote for the first time[12]
  • My Right to run for office
  • My Right to equal access- examples of this are the programs that were sponsored by both Canada and the UN that work with disabled voters and women respectively.[13][14] Part of this process of helping individuals gain access to the polls includes sponsoring local organizations such as the The Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union which promote this access.[15]
  • My Right to choose without fear
  • My Right to a better future

Regions with an IFES Presence

Asia

Phillipines
Main article: Election Process in the Philippines

IFES is currently supporting the Election Process in the Philippines.

Middle East

Yemen

IFES actively supports the increased rights of women into Yemen's Assembly of Representatives with the help of the European Union and the Cultural Development Fund.[16]

West Bank/Gaza
Further information: Elections Reform Support Group

IFES has been an active contractor since 2003 with the Elections Reform Support Group, which is an international initiative to support the Reform of elections in Lebenon. .[17][18] This intiative, a cooperative between the Quartet and the UN, wants to move forward with safe and democratic electiosn in this region.

Acting as a voice for Democratic Initiatives

Because of the international nature of IFES's work, there staff often will provide commentary on international elections events in newspapers. Examples include the president's commentary on Middle East elections, and a staff member's commentary on Sri Lanken politics.

Sources

References

  1. ^ http://www.ifes.org/newsinbrief.html?title=IFES%20President%20Receives%20Honorary%20Award%20for%20Strengthening%20the%20UK-US%20Business%20Relationship IFES President Receives Honorary Award for Strengthening the UK-US Business Relationship. retrieved June 26, 2009
  2. ^ Kingsley to take international election monitoring post. CBC News. Retrieved 31 January, 2007.
  3. ^ The Director for Communications and Advocacy at IFES is Jamie Dettmer.http://www.ifes.org/staffBio.html?staffid=dettmer
  4. ^ Democracy Dialogues on International Electoral Systems and Laws- U.S. Department Of State
  5. ^ AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AT RISK: AGENDA FOR RENEWAL AND REPAIR, http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=4323
  6. ^ http://www.ifes.org/civil.html
  7. ^ a b http://www.ifes.org/rol.html
  8. ^ http://www.ifes.org/governance.html
  9. ^ Global Initiative to Enfranchise People with Disabilities - www.electionaccess.org
  10. ^ University of Minnesota Human Rights Library,STUDY GUIDE: The Right to Vote, http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/studyguides/votingrights.html
  11. ^ IFES - An international nonprofit organization that supports the building of democratic societies
  12. ^ CNN,Building credibility without a constitution:Helping poll workers,Nigerian National Assembly and presidential elections, http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/nigerian.elections/stories/boda.essay/
  13. ^ For Voters with Disabilities, http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=int&document=pre&dir=bil&lang=e&textonly=false
  14. ^ Enhancing Women's Particpation in Electoral Procceses in Post-Conflict Countries, UN OSAGI, http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/meetings/2004/EGMelectoral/aidememoire.html
  15. ^ Only six out of 1,741 polling stations are accessible to people with disabilities Accessed June 26, 2009
  16. ^ Program of supporting women's access to parliament launched. Accessed June 26, 2009
  17. ^ http://www.ifes.org/westbankgaza.html?page=past IFES-West Bank/Gaza. Accessed June 30, 2006
  18. ^ [1] UNDP/PAPP Support to the Electoral Process in Palestine. Accessed June 30, 2009


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