Tools & Resources
Filter by
Type
Publication date
Language
Type
Publication date
Language
Image
Publication
Report/Paper
Parliamentary Oversight of Constitutional Bodies
Parliamentary Oversight of Constitutional Bodies in the Maldives explores how parliamentary tools and mechanisms can be effectively tailored to provide the appropriate level of oversight. The paper has recommendations and lessons that are broadly applicable outside the Maldivian context.
December 07, 2020
Publication
Report/Paper
Qualitative Assessment: Perceptions about Women’s Participation in Public Life in the Maldives
Gender equality and women’s empowerment remain a significant challenge in the Maldives. A new report from International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ (IFES), titled “Qualitative Assessment: Perceptions about Women’s Participation in Public Life in the Maldives,” examines the root causes of negative perceptions toward women in decision-making roles in the Maldives, including broader societal attitudes toward gender equality and women’s empowerment.
July 17, 2015
Publication
Report/Paper
Women’s Empowerment in the Political Process in the Maldives
In the Maldives, as in all countries around the world, women’s interest and ability to participate in the political process is impacted by a combination of legal, political, social, economic and cultural factors. An understanding of how each of these factors independently affects participation, as well as the aggregate effect of these combined factors, is critical to developing targeted strategies to increase women’s engagement in the political process.
July 17, 2015
Publication
Report/Paper
Money and Elections in the Maldives
IFES conducted the first systematic nationwide survey of its kind in the Maldives. The survey was conducted to measure the prevalence of vote buying in the Maldives during the March 2014 parliamentary elections. The final report, Money and Election in Maldives: Perceptions and Reality, will be shared with the Government, the Parliament, the Election Commission, civil society, political parties and others.
November 17, 2014
Publication
Report/Paper
Lithuania: Money and Politics Case Study
Lithuania has rapidly developed both politically and economically since emerging from the Soviet Union in 1991. While the country has built a functioning parliamentary system of government, has become a member of NATO, and is on the verge of joining the European Union, it still faces many problems associated with the many consolidating democracies around the world. As in all democracies, populations need to trust that those they elect will represent their interests. Problems such as corruption, weaknesses in laws concerning the political financing, and unaccounted for political income and expenditures threaten the credibility of the process and hinder the speed at which democracy is consolidated. Additionally, Lithuania lacks the high level of vibrant debate about the issue of political financing among scholars, journalists and civil society bodies required to promote meaningful reform. Recognizing this, Lithuania has developed an independent Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and adopted laws requiring detailed and public disclosure of political finance accounts. Prior to conducting Money and Politics programming in Lithuania, the CEC had made a demonstrable interest in making information public. While scanning summary report of accounts and placing them on the internet, the user could not search, not easily compare and analyze the information. Interested parties were required to make an appointment to view more detailed, paper-based information. Further, while the Tax Authorities are required to audit final political party reports, enforcement is widely considered to be weak. Few, if any, cases of political finance violations have been forwarded and investigated, not to mention prosecuted. By addressing the difficult issues surrounding political finance with the support of IFES in 2002 and 2003, Lithuania is emerging as a model for other consolidating democracy to follow. Significant areas remain to be addressed. While Lithuania has taken concrete steps to reform political finance legislation, open political finance information to public scrutiny and oversight, and encourage debate, further efforts are required to actively enforce laws and regulations and raise the level of debate among the various governmental, legislative, and civil society groups. By addressing these areas, Lithuania has the potential for being an example of best practices while making local expertise and resources to other countries undergoing similar reforms.
December 31, 2002