Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS)

Transcription

1 1. Organizational background: Name of the organization: Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) Address: 3/156 Vagif Avenue, AZ 1007, Baku, Azerbaijan Name of the legal representative of the organization: Phone: (+99412) Fax: (+99412) Е - mail: emc.az2001@gmail.com; URL or web page: Address: 3/156 Vagif Avenue, AZ 1007, Baku, Azerbaijan Anar Mammadli Phone: (+99412) Cell phone: (+99450) Е mail: aspyo@yahoo.com Date of foundation of the organization: Date of last registration (if applicable): December 1, 2008 Registration code: N/A Mission (objective) of the organization: Conduct of free and fair elections and development of civil society and democracy in Azerbaijan. Legal status of the organization: The organization was founded on December 1, Since then in order to get a status of a legal person the organization applied 4 times to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Ministry every time giving ungrounded reasons has not registered the organization. In Azerbaijan not only our organization but there are over 40 independent organizations that are in the same situation and cannot get registered. For restoration of our violated rights we applied to local courts but up to now they have not satisfied our claim. That s why after applying to all local judicial instances, we ll apply for registration of our organization to the European Court of Human Rights.

2 2. Fields of interests: Decentralization Advocacy X Interethnic relations Transparency and accountability X Participative democracy X Rights of minorities Good governance X Gender balance Citizens education X Other (please specify) Election Observation X 3. Information on projects: Please specify the projects implemented by your organization in the last year 1. Name of the project: Monitoring of March 18, 2009 Referendum and awareness-raising activities on the eve of the Referendum in Azerbaijan Primary objective of the project: To increase voter turnout and ensure public control over the elections. Within the frameworks of the project the following activities were conducted - long-term observation of the Referendum; - short-term observation by use of the Statistic based Observation Methodology; - volunteer-observers were trained and assisted to be accredited with the Constituency Election Commissions and Central Election Commissions; - manuals on both long-term observation of the Referendum and Referendum Day short-term observation by use of the Statistic based Observation Methodology were published. Financed by: the U.S.National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and OSCE Baku office. - Long-term observation was conducted for 76 days (December 30, 2008 March 15, 2009) and the results of the monitoring were reflected in 2 Interim Reports and the Final Report on the results of the Monitoring of the Referendum; - Short-term observation was conducted in 511 polling stations (about 10% of all the polling stations) which were randomly selected and observed 15 days prior to the Election Day and on the Election Day; - EMDS assisted 1,148 people to be accredited as independent observers with the Central Election Commission and Constituency Election Commissions; - 1,200 copies of the manuals for observers were published and distributed among the persons who wanted to become observers. 2. Name of the project: Monitoring of December 23, 2009 Municipal Elections in Azerbaijan Primary objective of the project: To increase voter turnout and ensure public control over the elections. Within the frameworks of the project the following activities were conducted: - long-term observation of the Municipal Elections; - short-term observation by use of the Statistic based Observation Methodology; - volunteer-observers were trained and assisted to be accredited with the Constituency Election

3 Commissions and Central Election Commissions; - manuals on both long-term observation of the Municipal Elections and Election Day short-term observation by use of the Statistic based Observation Methodology were published. Financed by: UK Embassy, Embassy of Canada, National Democratic Institute (NDI) - Long-term observation was conducted by 96 people who individually registered with the CEC as observers in 111 election constituencies of the country (elections were conducted in 188 constituencies) for 72 days (October 8 December 21, 2009) and the results of the monitoring were reflected in 2 Interim Reports and the Final Report on the results of the Monitoring of the Referendum; - Short-term observation on the Election Day was conducted by 1,291 observers in 711 polling stations which were randomly selected; - EMDS assisted 1,442 people to be accredited as independent observers with the Central Election Commission and Constituency Election Commissions; - 2,000 copies of the manuals for observers were published and distributed among the persons who wanted to become observers. 3. Name of the project Questionnaire Surveys, monitoring of the activities of the Parliament Primary objective of the project: To raise awareness of the duties and responsibilities of the Parliament members and to strengthen voter and parliament relations. Financed by: National Endowment for Democracy (NED) - Voters were provided with the legal knowledge on how to learn about their elected deputies attitudes towards the issues, laws discussed in the Parliament; - Town hall meetings of the deputies and their representatives with the voters in 25 election constituencies were conducted with participation of 646 voters; - The level of relations between the voters and members of the Parliament as well as citizens attitudes towards the activities of the Parliament members were learned through conduct of the survey in 81 election constituencies; - 2,000 copies of the Guide on the Parliament and the functions of the Parliament members were published and distributed on the territory of 30 election constituencies. 4. Name of the project Voter education and activities on increasing the voters active participation and organizational development Primary objective of the project: to raise awareness of the voters of the issues to be decided by Referendum, increase citizens participation in the election process, to inform the voters about the election rules Financed by: USAID and National Democratic Institute (NDI) - public discussions with the relevant state bodies, political parties, NGOs and the mass media to familiarize the election participants with the provisions of the Constitution to be decided during March 18 Referendum, increase citizens participation in the election

4 process were conducted. - The Civic Forums were conducted in Baku and regions to increase voters turnout in the Municipal Elections, to provide public control over the elections. In total 880 people participated in the Civic Forums. - 10,000 copies of Check your name in the voters list Guides, which explained the rules of checking the voters names prior to March 18, 2009 Referendum, taking deregistration cards were published and distributed on the territory of over 50 constituencies. - 8, 000 copies of Guide on Voters participation in the Municipal Elections were published and distributed among the various voters groups. 5.Name of the project Improvement of the Election Code Primary objective of the project: to offer recommendations for improvement of the Election Code Financed by: UK Embassy Within the frameworks of its activities EMDS has established an expert group consisting of the independent and unbiased lawyers and election experts that studied the recommendations of the local and international organizations as well as the election legislations of the other countries and came up with the draft law on amendments and changes to the Election Code. This draft law includes in total amendments and changes to 117 paragraphs of 63 articles of the Election Code. After studying opinions of all local and international organizations the draft law will be presented to the Parliament. 6.Name of the project: Monitoring of the Presidential Elections in Kyrgystan on June 22, 2009 Primary objective of the project: to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of the national legislation and international standards Financed by: ENEMO 2 regional representatives of EMDS participated in the election observation mission and provided their observation reports. 7. Name of the project: Long-term and short-term observation of the Parliamentary Elections in Moldova on July 29, 2009 Primary objective of the project: to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of the national legislation and international standards. Financed by:enemo EMDS trainer Irada Aliyeva worked as a long-term observer during the elections in Moldova. On the Election Day 6 more people joined EMDS mission in Moldova. The results of their observations were reflected in the relevant observation reports.

5 8.Name of the project: Long-term observation of August 20, 2009 presidential elections in Afganistan within the OSCE Election Support Team to Afganistan Primary objective of the project: to assess the pre-election situation on the basis of the national legislation and international standards Financed by: OSCE During 2 months Anar Mammadli, EMDS chairman worked within the OSCE Election Support Team to Afganistan. The results of the observation were reflected in the report prepared by the mission that could be found here: 9.Name of the project Monitoring of the first and second rounds of the Municipal Elections in Kosovo on November 15, 2009 and on December 15, 2009 Primary objective of the project: to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of the national legislation and international standards Financed by: ENEMO 3 EMDS representatives worked as a part of ENEMO Observation Mission of November 15, 2009 Municipal Elections that took place in Kosovo in The second round of the elections on December 15, 2009 was observed by 3 EMDS volunteers. All observers provided their contribution to ENEMO Final Report. 3. Capacity of the organization: personnel and management bodies of the organization Please specify the executive structure of the organization and the decision making process within the organization. The supreme body of the organization is the General Assembly that meets not less than once a year. The General Assembly is called upon the initiative of the Executive body of the organization, one of the founders or one third of all the members. Day-to-day management of the organization activities is implemented by the Board and Chairman of the organization. The number of Board members is determined by the General Assembly. Members of the Board of the Union are elected by the General Assembly for 2 years. The Board meetings take place when necessary but not less than once in 3 months. The Board meetings are authoritative only when over half Board members participate. The decisions are made by the majority of votes. The Chairman of the Union is elected by the General Assembly for 2 years. The Chairman authorities are the following: - organizes fulfillment of the decisions made by the General Assembly and Board; - chairs the Board meetings; - represents the organization, makes speeches and conducts negotiations on its behalf; - builds relations among the executive bodies of the organization, coordinates their

6 activities; - establishes relations with the state bodies and public unions; - issues orders, decrees. The General Assembly implements functions not related to the authorities of the Control and Audit Commission and Board. Published materials in the last year: Yes If yes please describe it:. - Manuals on long-term observation of the Referendum - Manuals on short-term observation of the Referendum - Final Report on the results of the monitoring of March 18, 2009 Referendum - Manuals on long-term observation of the Municipal Elections - Manual on short-term observation of the Municipal Elections - Final Report on the results of the monitoring of December 23, 2009 Municipal Elections - Guide on the Parliament and the functions of the Parliament members - Check your name in the voters list Guides - Voters participation in the Municipal Elections Guides - Annual Report Equipment and other resources Office? Yes X IT equipment: Central office in Baku 7 local offices 1. 4 laptops computers printers 4. 2 scanner, copier, fax 5. 9 photo camera 6. 1 digital video camera 7. 1 projector

7 Financing of the organization Source of financing 1. NED 2. OSCE 3. NDI 4. UK Government 5. Canada Government TOTAL Amount 2009 $58,825 $33,231 $31,308 $152,961 $10,465 $286,790