VIEW FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY-GENERAL & DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
PARLIAMENTS AND ELECTIONS
View from the Acting Secretary- General & Director of Finance and Administration
For Parliamentarians across the Commonwealth, elections are an essential part of the democratic process. With recent elections in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria to name just a few examples, and with an election having been called for the autumn in Canada, election issues and how to engage with voters are constantly at the forefront of the minds of the Commonwealth Parliamentary community. Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures can learn from each other in the provision of a wide range of matters relating to elections from voter registration to party political funding; from the running of a successful referendum to engaging young people in voting; from the legislation required to ensure elections are undertaken within a legal framework to the use of online voting in large jurisdictions.
Mr Joe Omorodion Acting Secretary-General & Director of Finance and Administration of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Secretariat has led the way on the principle of ‘free and fair’ elections with the establishment of the Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN) which aims to ensure elections around the 53 nation Commonwealth community are fair, credible and transparent, by helping electoral management bodies to share, and implement, best practices. We are delighted that the Commonwealth Secretary-General, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, who was instrumental in conceptualising the Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN) and has spoken of his desire that it establishes a “gold standard” in elections management, has written about the CEN for this issue of The Parliamentarian (see page 150).
For the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Post- Election Seminar is one of our core programmes. For over 20 years, the Association has conducted numerous Post-Election Seminars for Parliaments that have a high intake of new Parliamentarians, are entering a new political system or era or are emerging from a period of conflict. Post-Election Seminars are aimed at building the capacity of newly elected Members of Parliament so they function efficiently and effectively in the performance of their democratic duties and serve as refresher courses for returning MPs.
This longstanding programme introduces Members to different 144 | The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue Three
parliamentary systems and methods of working. They usually take place a few months after a general election and are delivered by senior, highly experienced Parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from throughout the Commonwealth. The objectives are two-fold: to disseminate information on diverse good practices in Commonwealth Parliaments, and to promote an understanding of the way parliamentary procedures and practices can embed good governance into a system. Recently, the CPA has held Post-Election Seminars in Malawi, Swaziland, the Bahamas and Pakistan with further seminars planned in 2015/16.
On occasion, the CPA has also undertaken Pre- Election Seminars at the specific request of a Member of the CPA to prepare parliamentarians and parliamentary staff for a forthcoming election and to provide expert advice on the processes that are required to ensure an efficient and well planned election.
Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, which will build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and converges with the post-2015 development agenda, states that the goal is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” This is detailed further by stating that the Sustainable Development Goal will “ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels” (16.7), “develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels” (16.6) and “substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms” (16.5).1 The provision of ‘free and fair’ elections across the Commonwealth will help to meet these goals of achieving accountable and effective institutions, ensuring that all sections of society are represented and that corruption has no place in any democratic electoral process.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) https://
sustainabledevelopment.un.org/
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