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The Rule of Law in Saudi Arabia (Arabic)
The Rule of Law in Saudi Arabia
February 21, 2003
Publication
Report/Paper
Cairo Rule of Law Conference Agenda
In a joint effort with the UNDP and the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP), IFES organized a judicial independence conference in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2003. The conference gathered judges, lawyers, academics and civil society representatives from North Africa, the Middle East and the Arab Gulf region to debate the state of judicial independence in the Arab region and recommend mechanisms for promoting and monitoring judicial reforms.
February 19, 2003
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
Publication
Report/Paper
The Second Justice Conference: "Toward Supporting and Promoting the Independence of the Judiciary" Cairo, Egypt
The Second Justice Conference was held in Cairo 21-24 February 2003 under the auspices of an Egyptian NGO, the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession. Other sponsoring organizations included the Program on Arab Governance (POGAR) of the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Ford Foundation also contributed funding and IFES provided expertise. The stated objective of the conference was “to explore the status of the independence of the judiciary in the Arab region.” More specifically, the conference was to “further examine the requirements of an independent judiciary at international law in order to draft a ‘covenant of independence’ through which progress regarding independence of the judiciary in the Arab region can be measured and followed up.”
December 31, 2002
Publication
Electoral Assessment
Palestinian Elections: A Pre-Election Assessment Mission Report (2002)
The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), as well as a representative of the Government of Norway, jointly organized a pre-election assessment mission to the West Bank and Gaza between July 14 and July 24, 2002. The purpose of the mission was fourfold: 1) to evaluate the pre-electoral environment and identify the requirements of the Palestinian Authority, political parties, civil society and the international community to establish a meaningful electoral process; 2) to identify the elements of the process that are most vulnerable and the obstacles that must be overcome; 3) to assess the state of technical preparations for elections; and 4) to recommend electoral reform measures that could enhance the transparency and credibility of the process.
July 31, 2002
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Sudan Election Administration - 2002
Sudan Election Administration - 2002
Election Material
Election and Political Party Law
Law No.(4) of 2000 Concerning The Local Authority
Law No.(4) of 2000 Concerning The Local Authority
Election Material
Ballot
Yemen Ballot 1999
Ballot used in the Yemeni presidential election held on 23 September 1999. The 1999 election was the first time that the President of Yemen was directly elected. The main candidates in the election were Ali Abdullah SALEH (General People's Congress) and Najeeb Qahtan Al-SHA'ABI (Independent).