COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL NETWORKS
COMMONWEALTH ELECTORAL NETWORKS
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma introduces the Commonwealth Electoral Networks and their work in setting the ‘gold standard’ in election management.
Democracy, development, and respect for diversity are at the heart of the Commonwealth’s core values. The Commonwealth attaches the highest importance to the conduct of credible and peaceful elections as a means of giving citizens an opportunity to choose their leaders and to hold them accountable. Parliaments, local
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma became Secretary-General in April 2008 having been appointed by Commonwealth Heads of Government in Uganda in November 2007. Mr Sharma joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1965 and served at ambassadorial level in five missions including India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, where he was closely involved in Commonwealth affairs. He was India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva followed by the United Nations in New York where he chaired the Working Group which led to the Monterrey Consensus; he was also closely engaged in the process which led to the formulation and adoption of the Millennium Development Goals. Mr Sharma’s special interests lie in the empowerment of young people, the advancement of women’s rights, the challenge of poverty eradication and economic growth.
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government, and other forms of local representation are all integral to democratic and accountable governance. Our Commonwealth conviction is that governments, political parties and civil society share responsibility for upholding and promoting democratic culture and practices.
Although elections are not the singular mark of a democracy, the management and credibility of the process are the crucial index in assessing the health of a country’s democracy. Elections can often be tense and fraught affairs, and the electoral period is a moment when the credibility of institutions and fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, are tested. As a result, election
observation - be it international or domestic – has progressively become an important
component of the process. The presence of observers can help to shine a light on shortcomings
and identify lapses in the process. It can also enhance accountability and transparency and thereby confidence in the process. But the mere presence of observers does not legitimise or make an election credible. Only an independent, capable and transparent electoral management body, supported by observers, can ensure the credibility of an election and increase public and political confidence in it.
Observing elections, and making recommendations as to how electoral processes can be improved, has long been a distinctive brand strength of the Commonwealth and is greatly valued by our membership. Current and former parliamentarians are actively sought as members of Commonwealth Observer Groups, and provide a valuable contribution to the team’s overall assessment of the electoral process. This includes observing whether systems for electoral administration are neutral and robust, whether there is freedom of movement and expression with peaceful, open dialogue and a free flow of information, including through a free, vibrant and professional media, and whether public service broadcasters are independent. It is with the goal of
advancing adherence to the highest standards in the conduct
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