Volume 2 No.1 January – March 2015 E-BULLETIN The Dili Indicators are a practical distilla- voting related information to enable better 2015 Asian Electoral tion of the Bangkok Declaration for Free informed choices by voters. Stakeholder Forum and Fair Elections, the set of principles endorsed at the 2012 meeting of the Participants were also honored to hear Draws Much Needed AES Forum. The Indicators provide a from some of the most distinguished practical starting point to assess the and influential leaders of Timor-Leste’s Attention to Electoral quality and integrity of elections across young democracy. The President of the region. Timor-Leste, José Maria Vasconcelos Challenges in Asia A.K.A “Taur Matan Ruak”, opened the More than 120 representatives from twen- Forum, while Nobel Laureate Dr. Jose The 2nd Asian Electoral Stakeholder ty-seven countries came together to share Ramos-Jorta, Founder of the State Dr. ANFREL ACTIVITIES ANFREL Forum came to a successful close on their expertise and focus attention on the Marí Bim Hamude Alkatiri, and the coun- March 19 after two days of substantive most persistent challenges to elections in try’s 1st president after independence discussions and information sharing the region. Participants were primarily and Founder of the State Kay Rala 1 among representatives of Election from Asia, but there were also participants Xanana Gusmão also addressed the Management Bodies and Civil Society from many of the countries of the Commu- attendees. Each shared the wisdom Organizations (CSOs). nity of Portuguese Speaking Countries gained from their years of trying to (CPLP). The AES Forum offered represen- consolidate Timorese electoral democ- Coming two years after the inaugural tatives from Electoral Management Bodies racy. meeting of the AES Forum, this year’s and Civil Society a chance to come togeth- co-hosts, the National Election Commis- er to discuss the most pressing challenges At the conclusion, the sponsors sion of Timor-Leste(CNE) and the Asian to elections in the region. Among the expressed the hope that this year’s AES Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), topics discussed were methods to advance Forum would serve as a springboard for expressed appreciation for the sustained the inclusion of women, minorities, and enhanced knowledge and greater dedication and enthusiasm of all partici- disabled persons in countries where they understanding and cooperation pants. During the Forum’s two days, face challenges to full participation in between EMBs and CSOs, thereby participants reaffirmed their shared political life, voting methods for overseas strengthening efforts to deliver the commitment to improve the quality of workers, campaign finance best practices quality elections that their citizens so elections in the region, most visibly and monitoring, electoral dispute resolu- badly deserve. through the release of the Dili Indicators tion, and new technologies for voting, of Democratic Elections. voter education, and providing more Volume 2 No.1 January – March 2015 Moon Sehat. The signing was held in data collection and reporting system, Dili, just prior to the AES Forum. ANFREL built specifically with election monitor- and the Carter Center agreed to collabo- ing in mind. Equipped with ELMO, rate on ELection MOnitoring (ELMO) observers can submit evaluations of a Data Collection and Analysis Software process – via tablets (utilizing Open Data System. Mr. Simao Lopes, Public Kit), SMS, or directly online – in real-time Relations Officer of Timor Leste’s to mission headquarters. ELMO’s report- Election Commission (CNE), also a ing system organizes observer findings member of civil society organization and is relied upon by Carter Center Women Caucus, witnessed the signing. missions around the globe to analyze Members of the ANFREL secretariat and data and to assess elections as well as Carter Center intern Ms. Francesca broader political processes. Gilmore were also present during the ANFREL signs MoU with signing. The “Open ELMO' initiative aims to build the Carter Center and a system optimized for elections and Immediately after the signing, the other human rights-related observation Participates in ELMO Carter Center team facilitated training activities in a collaborative, open- on ELMO for ANFREL staff. The training source, and sustainable way. Training introduced the features of ELMO, how it functions, and how it can be used ANFREL’s partnership with TCC is seen On 13 March 2015, ANFREL, represent- during an election observation mission as a great opportunity to collaborate on ed by its Executive Director, Mr. Ichal and in other activities that require data strengthening electoral democracy in Supriadi, signed a Memorandum of collection. ELMO was developed by the Asia through the use of Information Understanding (MoU) with The Carter Carter Center and has been used in a Technology (IT) tools. For more infor- Center, represented by its Democracy number of election monitoring missions mation on Open ELMO Project, please Program Associate Director, Ms. Connie since 2011. ELMO is an open-source visit http://getelmo.org. coalition comprised of disabled persons the Rights of Persons with Disabilities organizations (DPOs), election monitor- (CRPD) and the Incheon Strategy to ing groups, and the International Foun- “Make the Right Real.” dation for Electoral Systems (IFES). On the final day of the conference, The third Regional Dialogue on Access participants agreed to the Jakarta to Elections brought together more Addendum 2015, which reaffirms the than 200 representatives from DPOs, Bali Commitments established at the ACTIVITIES ANFREL election management bodies, govern- close of the 2nd Regional Dialogue in ments, media, and international organi- November 2012. In turn, the Bali zations to facilitate an exchange of ideas Commitments supported the interna- 2 The Third Regional and best practices on strengthening tional frameworks on human rights – Dialogue on Access to equal access to political and electoral the Universal Declaration of Human rights for persons with disabilities. Rights, the International Covenant on Elections is Held in Civil and Political Rights and the Jakarta Participants from more than 25 coun- Convention of the Rights of Persons tries across Southeast Asia and beyond with Disabilities (CRPD) – as the legal ANFREL Executive DirectorIchal Supriadi joined expert panelists and presenters basis for the fulfillment of the rights of attended the Third Regional Dialogue on to explore emerging themes related to persons with disabilities. The partici- Access to Elections in Jakarta from Janu- making the electoral process accessible, pants held a community discussion on ary 28-29, 2015. The two-day confer- such as the need for increasing the Jakarta Addendum to address ence was co-hosted by the General outreach to youth with disabilities, overlapping forms of marginalization, an Election Network for Disability Access collaborating with media for greater effort to further support persons with (AGENDA), the Association of World representation in election coverage, and disabilities who belong to more than one Election Bodies (A-WEB), and the Gener- strategies for improving implementation marginalized group, such as women with al Election Commission of Indonesia of key international and regional disabilities. The Jakarta Addendum is (KPU). AGENDA is a Southeast Asian policies, such as the U.N. Convention on enclosed with this E-Bulletin. Volume 2 No.1 January – March 2015 Workshop on Electoral Processes and Election Observation at Mahidol University,Bangkok, Thailand A workshop was held on January 7, 2015 it would prepare them to serve as ANFREL resource persons highlighted at Mahidol University for students and student volunteers and election moni- the principles and values enshrined in scholars from different countries across tors. This initiative was conceptualized the Bangkok Declaration onFree and the globe. It was part of a renewed as part of ANFREL’s Asian Electoral Fair Elections and reiterated the impor- emphasis on building the capacities of Resource Centre (AERC) project as part tance of upholding the principles of citizen election observer groups and of its capacity building unit. universal suffrage and the need for developing knowhow among students regular and periodic elections and equal and youths about the importance of The workshop was designed in recogni- opportunities for all contesting political holding genuine and democratic tion of the importance of arming parties and candidates, as well as the elections as part of the democratization students and youths with tools and necessity of fair access to the media and process. knowledge on the electoral process, an independent electoral process. election monitoring and reporting on The workshop was part of ANFREL’s the management and conduct of ANFREL Myanmar Country Representa- commitment to promote capacity build- elections. Students at different times in tive Bidhayak Das, who is also a facilita- ing among students in colleges and their careers can function as election tor on election training, conducted the universities. ANFREL hopes that the monitors and media reporters to help workshop. knowledge thereby imparted would help ensure that elections are free, fair and students in their academic pursuits on transparent and that official results democracy studies and, moreover, that accurately reflect the choices of the voters. ANFREL ACTIVITIES ANFREL 3 ANFREL Launches Election Monitoring Handbook in Myanmar ANFREL Myanmar