The arrest of three staffers from the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) and the unfounded charges of incitement and plotting against the nation marks yet another case of Cambodian authorities imprisoning human rights defenders for their peaceful activism. We, the undersigned groups, demand an end to the persecution of human rights
The human rights violations in the first three months of 2023 are a continuation of the human rights violations that have been going on for the past 14 years. After the current Awami League government came to power in 2009, it has been using all the state institutions, including the Election Commission,
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) launches our 2022 Annual Report detailing the trials and tribulations of BERSIH’s work in an unprecedented political environment. The year 2022 was significant because some reforms agreed by government and opposition parties in the Memorandum of Understanding on Transformation and Political Stability had materialised
Several civil society organizations in Sri Lanka including ANFREL members PAFFREL and CMEV, which united as the Civil Society Collective for Protecting the Franchise, urged diplomatic missions in the country to call for the holding of local government elections to protect the democracy. With the uncertainty with the holding of the local
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) applauds the statement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that he is receptive to placing the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Parliament and the appointment process of its chief to be vetted by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). The Prime Minister said he ‘has no
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) welcomes the formation of the 10 Parliamentary Special Select Committees (PSSC) that were approved in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. Each PSSC will comprise 9 Members of Parliament (MPs) including the Chairman. The 10 PSSCs are: 1) Finance and Economy2) Security3) Health4) Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship,
The Coalition for Free and Fair Election (Bersih) is pleased to announce that Ooi Kok Hin has been appointed as our Executive Director, effective 20 March 2023. He brings a diverse experience, skills, and network of over eight years in think tanks, civil society and academia. Kok Hin was previously a research
The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) observed the plebiscites in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur in the Philippines on 18 March 2023. The plebiscites were conducted to ratify the creation of Barangays Boronga II and Datu Dalidigan in Marawi City. NAMFREL said the polling process was peaceful and the counting
We are greatly concerned by the government's proposed amendments to the Election (General) Act 11/2008 that will potentially restrict the scope of journalists monitoring elections, just six months ahead of this year's presidential elections. According to the proposed amendment to Section 41 of the Act, only registered journalists will be allowed to
ANFREL members in the Philippines welcomed the passage of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code in the Philippines. The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) said they welcome the passage of the code and hoped that it would pave the way for the success of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
CMEV expresses its grave concern about the first death reported yesterday in connection with the Local Government Elections 2023. This death follows from the undemocratic and repressive actions of the Sri Lanka Police to prevent a protest rally organised by the National People’s Power (NPP). Nimal Amarasiri, a NPP candidate for the
ANFREL member in the Philippines, the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), said the special election in Cavite on 25 February 2023 was peaceful and smooth but the voter turnout was low. In two updates released on Election Day, NAMFREL said that the electoral process was peaceful and smooth in the
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) published a policy brief on options that can be implemented to boost voter turnout in the upcoming state elections in Malaysia. BERSIH suggests having one common election date which should be preannounced months ahead which can help reduce cost and enable "distant advance voting"
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) strongly condemns the blatant violation of the people’s democratic rights by the Election Commission, Treasury, Executive, Government Printer and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Police. Examining each of these public authorities and officials in turn, reveals how they have worked together to totally disrupt
CMEV expresses its deep concern about the indefinite postponement of the postal voting for the Local Government Election 2023. It has been reported that this is due to the Government Printer’s refusal to submit the printed postal voting ballot papers on time to the Election Commission. CMEV learnt that the Government Printer
ANFREL members People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) have put up special units where electoral stakeholders can report election-related violence and violations in Sri Lanka. PAFFREL set up a Special Election Complaints Unit where voters can submit complaints about violation of election laws
ISLAMABAD, February 2, 2023: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called for introducing divisional quotas for seats reserved for women in the National and Provincial Assemblies to ensure the geographical representativeness of women as well as to incentivize their greater political role in the areas where women’s participation is marginal. In
Press Statement -31 January 2023 The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2022 released today by Transparency International reveals that the Maldives, remains at the same position on the CPI rankings amongst the two-thirds of countries to score below 50. The CPI annually scores and ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived level
The Asia Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and members People's Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) filed a joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the fourth periodic report of Sri Lanka at the 42nd session of the Universal Periodic Review
Parties Need to Agree on Regulating Political Finance, Refining Results Management, Devising Mechanisms for Overseas Voting, and Catering to Representativeness Issues In Elections ISLAMABAD, January 27, 2023: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) calls upon the political parties to immediately initiate a comprehensive dialogue on addressing the weaknesses in the existing legal
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) reiterates that the giving of cash handouts or anything valuable during elections is bribery. To eradicate this malady requires not only the consistent enforcement of the Election Offences Act 1954 (EOA), but also the enactment of the Political Financing Act (PFA) and the setting
Violations of Campaigning Restrictions and Lax Compliance with Ballot Issuance Persist ISLAMABAD, January 19, 2023: Voters in Karachi and Hyderabad Divisions turned out variedly to elect more than 3,508 councilors in long-delayed local government elections on January 15, 2023, that remained peaceful and relatively orderly, but were tainted by allegations of rigging
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) learnt that it is alleged that two members of the Election Commission, Mr. K.P.P. Pathirana and Mr. S.B. Divaratna were threatened with death if they did not resign from the Commission, last evening via WhatsApp. CMEV vehemently condemns such undemocratic and violent actions and calls
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) express its deep concern about the letter issued by Neil Bandara Hapuhinna, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Council and Local Governments instructing District Secretaries to refrain from accepting deposits from candidates expecting to contest in upcoming Local Government Elections
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), together with the Gender and Election Working Group (GEWG), conducted a press conference on 09 January 2023 to request all political parties to ensure better representation and safer participation for women in Local Government Elections. D.M. Dissanayake, Chief of Operation, CMEV stated that Sri Lanka
Transparency Maldives calls on the State to stop the abuse of State resources and uphold the integrity of election and ensure a free and fair electoral process. The abuse of State resources can be a corruptive force in the electoral process, as it introduces or exacerbates power inequalities and gives unfair advantage
The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) welcomes the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) planned activities for 2023 as discussed during its press briefing today, January 3, 2023. The press briefing touched on matters and updates regarding the ongoing voter registration and the Register Anywhere Project (RAP) as well as the possible addition
ANFREL member in Singapore, MARUAH, celebrated their 15th year anniversary while the chairperson of Nepal member National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) received the Human Rights Award. MARUAH, whose work seeks to uphold human rights through research, advocacy, and public education, celebrated their 15th year anniversary this year. Through partnerships with various regional
ANFREL member in the Philippines, the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) observed a plebiscite on 17 December 2022 seeking the conversion of the municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan into a component city. NAMFREL said the process went smoothly and peacefully with no untoward incident observed. The closing and counting processes were
Century Park Hotel, Manila, December 10, 2022 - The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) gathered various election stakeholders at Century Park Hotel, Manila during its MOVE! A Colloquium on Electoral Reforms from December 8-10, 2022 to revisit longstanding and emerging electoral issues, and discuss possible solutions for such. True to its