Advancing Electoral Democracy in Asia
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting a series of online training sessions for journalists in Myanmar on reporting elections to prepare them for the anticipated 2020 General Election. ANFREL, in cooperation with the Myanmar Press Council (MPC), kicked off its “Training of Trainers Program for Journalists in Myanmar on
The Sri Lanka Parliamentary Election was scheduled to be held on 25 April 2020 but was postponed due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a timeline of the events that transpired in the last few months regarding the election and COVID-19 crisis situation in the country:
First published on the Daily Mirror on 7 May 2020 By Tharindu Abeyrtahna Despite the fact that electoral democracy in Sri Lanka faced many challenges in pre and post-independence eras, the country has managed to conduct periodical elections in national level. Sri Lanka known as the oldest democracy in Asia and it
The confidence in the government and the electoral system of Bangladesh continue to decline as lack of interest in the local elections held in the first quarter of 2020 amid the rampant fraudulent activities was observed, human rights organization Odhikar said in their 2020 first quarter report. "Several by-elections of the Jatiya
South Korean health authorities said there were no recorded local transmission from the conduct of the parliamentary election. Here are the safety measures South Korea implemented to make the 15 April 2020 election possible despite the threat of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the election cycle in many countries as much
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Myanmar program is now even more connected as it launched its website which will serve as a platform to better engage election stakeholders in Myanmar. Access Myanmar-related news and updates via the website (https://myanmar.anfrel.org/mm) which is also available in English (https://myanmar.anfrel.org/en). One of the key
With Indonesia postponing the local elections scheduled for 23 September 2020 to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, several election civil society organizations recommended factors to consider on declaring election postponements. Election CSOs composed of ANFREL members Perludem and KIPP Indonesia (Independent Committee for Elections Monitoring Indonesia), with the People's Voter
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has set 20 June 2020 as the new date for the Parliamentary Election. It was originally scheduled for 25 April 2020 but was postponed due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) , published
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the everyday life of people around the world affecting their livelihood and restricting freedoms they enjoy. Several countries have also postponed their scheduled elections in light of the current situation but on 15 April 2020, South Korea proceeded with its legislative election in what the world now
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) published the first edition for 2020 of its quarterly newsletter e-Bulletin. In this issue, ANFREL highlights the discussion on elections in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. ANFREL, in a statement, expressed concern and regarded the postponements of elections as reasonable measures, "as long as
UPDATE: The "Reporting on Elections: A Toolkit for Journalists in Myanmar" is also available through an interactive online platform hosted under ANFREL Myanmar program's website which can be accessed here: https://myanmar.anfrel.org/en/media-toolkit/about-the-toolkit The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its media toolkit titled "Reporting on Elections: A Toolkit for Journalists in Myanmar"
27 March 2020 As the world continues to face the severe outbreak of COVID-19, states across Asia are taking measures to tackle the epidemic and protect the health of their population, which is obviously the foremost concern. At the same time, while everyday life is disrupted, elections and democratic processes are also
The 2020 Taiwanese General Election was conducted smoothly and transparently, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) found in their study mission saying it demonstrated the robust democracy that Taiwan has become. On 11 January 2020, over 19 million registered voters of the Republic of China (also referred to as Taiwan) went
Statement to commemorate International Women's Day Dhaka: March 06, 2020 Odhikar is observing International Women’s Day on 8th March 2020, with deep concern, as women in Bangladesh are subjected to unchecked, widespread gender-based violence. Domestic abuse against women are a routine phenomenon and forms of discrimination against them are prevalent in every
ANFREL is looking for a dynamic person to fill the new position of Logistic Officer for ANFREL Myanmar Program. The Logistic Officer will work with ANFREL’s team in Myanmar in supporting activities for all programs and ahead of the upcoming general elections. The Logistic Officer will be tasked with the following: -
Statement of the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) on the final result of the 2019 Afghan Presidential Election Finally, the Independent Election Commission (IEC) could announce final results of the 2019 Afghan presidential elections with 5 months delay. It was expected that all electoral tickets accept the final election
19 February 2020 Kabul: Election is not necessarily a win and lose game, but a holistic process that should be entirely lawful, as its results are embraced merely when electoral processes are chiefly characterized by lawfulness, that in turn helps in forming a legitimate state. The final results of the 2019 Presidential
While the State's obligation to ensure accommodation and assistance for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote is guaranteed under the law in Thailand, the right of PWDs to participate in all aspects of the election is yet to be realized. This is what the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) found in
First published on the website of TEFA on 17 February 2020. Exactly 13 days have passed since the initial announcement of ECC’s decisions were made over adjudication of electoral complaints, and IEC too, on its part, embraced ECC’s call, acted accordingly, and began carrying out their decisions; however, TEFA’s observation findings highlight
[rev_slider alias="2020-02-14"] The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) showcased its various efforts to advance electoral #democracy in Asia, especially in Myanmar, during the celebration of the annual Nordic Day in Myanmar last Friday, 14 February 2020. The Embassy of Sweden Section Office in Yangon, Embassy of Denmark in Myanmar, Embassy
First published on the website of FEFA on 5 February 2020. Addressing the electoral complaints entered a new phase by the announcement of ECC’s decisions about the complaints. FEFA (Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan) appreciate the ECC for its efforts to ensure the electoral justice and keeping its impartiality and
5 February 2020 Announcement of the preliminary and final results of the 2019 election was contingent upon the final work of ECC, and finally as of yesterday, this commission managed to openly share on its works. For over a month, all election stakeholders were desperately waiting to know about ECC's final decision;
On January 31, 2020, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its comprehensive assessment on the conduct of the 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Elections. To access the report, please click the link below: The 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election: A Deepening Political Divide Executive Summary The Eighth Presidential Election was held
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is looking for a competent individual to fill the position of Finance Assistant for the Capacity Building for Media and Civil Society Program of ANFREL's office in Yangon, Myanmar. The program officer will work with ANFREL's Admin/Finance Officer in Myanmar in implementing day to day
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is looking for a dynamic person to fill the position of Program Officer for Campaign and Advocacy. The program officer will be responsible for implementing ANFREL's advocacy efforts and public campaigns including writing of press statements, reports, and coordination with ANFREL members, among other things.
[rev_slider alias="2020-01-11"] The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) conducted a study mission for the 11 January 2020 Taiwanese General Election. James Kan of the Citizen Congress Watch and Bo Tedards of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy briefed the eight-member study team on 6 January 2020 at the CCW office in
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released the latest edition of its quarterly e-newsletter E-Bulletin. For the last quarter of 2019, ANFREL successfully concluded its international election observation mission for the 2019 Sri Lanka Presidential Election in November, organized trainings for election monitors in Myanmar and Thailand, and elected a new
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched its first election monitoring handbook for civil society organizations in Thailand. Tailor-fitted to address the needs of emerging domestic election watchdog organizations in the country, the Election Monitoring Handbook for CSOs in Thailand aims to help election monitors in pursuing significant initiatives on their
First published on the website of FEFA on 1 January 2020. The Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA) appreciates efforts of the Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) for addressing accurately the complaints related to the preliminary results of the presidential election conducted on September 28th 2019, but also expresses its
Described as "the most peaceful and free election held since 1982," the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) in Sri Lanka said in the interim report of their observation of the 16 November 2019 Presidential Election. PAFFREL, however, said in the report published on 27 December 2019 that "this year's
