Bangkok, 20 December 2018 As the date set for the Thai general election looms closer, there is growing debate as to whether international poll observers should be allowed to monitor the ballot on February 24. To defuse any controversy, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) wishes to explain why it believes
Full Report: Odhikar November 2018 HRR This report has been prepared based on the overall human rights situation in November 2018 where violations of civil and political rights, including state repression and deprivation of the right to life were analysed. Odhikar publishes this report at a time when false and baseless reports
The Roundtable Discussion on the Transparency and Integrity of Elections in Southeast Asia (RTD – TIE in SEA) is a coming together and a forging ahead of the Asian Network for Free Elections’ (ANFREL’s) mission to strengthen democracy and raise the quality of electoral processes in this part of the world. It
Full Report : Colombo Pledge ( Myanmar Translation) We, the election stakeholders convening today at the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF IV), reaffirm our resolute commitment and dedication to secure democratic elections for everyone in Asia. We believe it is our duty to act assertively on electoral issues and do everything in
Asian electoral stakeholders have just reached another milestone in its pursuit towards more democratic and transparent elections in the region through meaningful cooperation among Civil Society and Election Management Bodies. The 3rd Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF) was successfully held in Bali, Indonesia from 21-25 August 2016. It was co-hosted by the
Yangon – October 30, 2018 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched on October 29 its international election observation mission to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar’s by-elections, which will be held on November 3. The delegation aims to engage with electoral stakeholders – political parties, civil society organizations, election
Kabul, Afghanistan First of all, we thank the Afghan citizens, observers, and the media for their greater role in the process. The widespread public participation of committed Afghan citizens’ is highly appreciated. Despite serious security threats and management shortcomings, the Afghans went to the polls to cast their votes in favor of
Kabul: professional, impartial and objective observation is deemed a substantial necessity for ensuring transparency in the upcoming elections, and can be the sole source of validating it. In spite of the all the daunting challenges ahead of the elections, TEFA is prideful of assigning 66 of its provincial coordinators, and deploying 7200
Transparency Maldives expresses concern regarding the motion to annul the outcome of the 2018 presidential election, submitted to the Supreme Court by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives. Transparency Maldives conducted a nation-wide domestic election observation of the 2018 presidential election. As noted in our pre-election assessments, while the pre-election environment was
Odhikar has, since 1994, been monitoring the human rights situation in Bangladesh in order to promote and protect civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Bangladeshi citizens and to report on violations and defend the victims. Odhikar does not believe that the human rights movement merely endeavours to protect the „individual‟
Bangkok/Colombo, 22 September 2018 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) denounces recent developments in the island nation of Maldives, which ensure that the upcoming presidential election of September 23 cannot be considered free and fair. Among others, intimidation of local civil society organizations, media, and members of the opposition, the lack
The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), with the participation of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), conducted a fact-finding mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 7-10 September 2018. In light of the testimonies and data gathered during the mission, we express our utmost concern about the deterioration of human
Kabul: only 36 days are remaining for the parliamentary elections to be held, however, serious concerns are yet to exist on how the coming elections will be held. Transparent Elections Foundation of Afghanistan (TEFA) in close cooperation and coordination with its provincial partner organizations has analyzed the ongoing electoral conditions and offers
Dhaka, 6 September 2018: Odhikar expresses its strong condemnation over the statement of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Mohammad Mahabubor Rahman regarding the extrajudicial killings taking place in the name of ‘anti-drug operation’ by members of the law enforcement agencies. On September 4, Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman stated in a meeting, “Drug dealers keep arms
Full Report: Odhikar August 2018 Human Rights Report The human rights situation of August 2018 has been reviewed in this report. The Awami League government, after reassuming power for a second term, through the 2014 controversial Parliamentary election, has created a state of fear in the country by suppressing people and violating civil
PDF Copy: The Colombo Pledge The Colombo Pledge to Promote and Defend Electoral Democracy in Asia We, the election stakeholders convening today at the fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF IV), reaffirm our resolute commitment and dedication to secure democratic elections for everyone in Asia. We believe it is our duty to act
For Immediate Release Colombo, Sri Lanka It is the honor of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) to convene the Fourth Asian Electoral Stakeholders Forum (AESF-IV) in Colombo, Sri Lanka,on August 27 and 28, 2018. The AESF will have as theme “Advancing Election Transparency
Full report: Odhikar Bangladesh July 2018 Human Rights Report The human rights situation of July 2018 has been analyzed in this report. The main element of democratic rule – the electoral system – has been destroyed through the farcical National elections of 2014 and the Awami League reassumed power for a second term,
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), after careful assessment, has determined that the conduct of the 2018 Cambodian Elections was anything but free or fair. Having observed more than 50 elections over the past two decades, ANFREL believes that this one was more bereft of truly democratic political processes than almost
FULL PAPER: TEFA POSITION PAPER PREFACE: In accordance with Afghanistan’s constitution, Parliamentary elections are to be held once in every five years so that new representatives could pave their ways to parliament, but after the 2014 Presidential and Provincial Council elections which resulted in severe mistrusts and an immense surge of political challenges,
We, as domestic and international election monitors, denounce the attempt by the Government and the National Election Committee (NEC) of Cambodia to legitimize the upcoming July 29 general election by accrediting large numbers of biased election monitors. It is our opinion that the 80,000 domestic observers authorized by the NEC show neither
As legislative elections will take place in Cambodia on July 29, ANFREL will not deploy observers in the country, since we believe the repressive political environment prejudicial to a truly democratic electoral process. In doing so, we stand in solidarity with our members NICFEC and COMFREL, as well as other Cambodian civil
ANFREL member Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) released a series of updates on the 2018 Pakistan Elections since January 2018. The reports relay important information on the preparation for the elections, statistics on violence, updates from the Election Commission, civil society, and other party and campaign reports. "Free and Fair Election
Press Statement Quota Reform Movement: Immediately arrest the Chhatra League perpatrators; reform the quota! Odhikar would like to express its immense concern and condemnation regarding the horrific attacks by the Chhatra League leaders have unleashed on students protesting for the reformation of the quota on government jobs, since 30 June 2018; along
Foreword Odhikar has been monitoring the human rights situation in Bangladesh in order to promote and protect civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Bangladeshi citizens and to report on violations and defend the victims since 1994. Odhikar does not believe that the human rights movement merely endeavours to protect the
27 June 2018 Concerns on emerging challenges and illegal practices in electoral process Kabul: As per the election calendar, 115 days are left for the parliamentary and district council elections to arrive and be conducted, considering all the daily emerging challenges, drawbacks and misconducts which tend to jeopardize the sound conduct of
Bangkok, Thailand | June 15, 2018 On June 14, 2018, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released the report of its Pre-election Assessment Mission (PEAM) conducted in Cambodia early May 2018. The mission was conducted by five (5) international observers led by Mr. Damaso Magbual, the organization’s Spokesperson and Board Member from
The human rights situation of May 2018 has been analyzed in this report. The country's human rights situation was found to be deteriorating since 2009, which has since become of serious concern due to the repressive attitude and policies of the government; while has returned to power through the farcical elections of
Kabul: TEFA welcomes the extension of voter registration process in capital of the provinces by the Independent Election Commission till 12rd of June of the current year and perceives this round of extension as an opportunity for resolving all the drawbacks and challenges of the previous month, but it is highly crucial
Bangkok, 10 May 2018 – The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) congratulates the people of Malaysia for actively participating in the country’s 14th general elections. It is commendable that the Malaysian people were able to overcome all obstacles that could have prevented them from exercising their democratic right to vote. Civil
