elections

Call for Abstracts: Public Participation Conference

Please note: this opportunity closing date has passed and may not be available any more.

Opportunity closing date:

Friday, December 9, 2011

Opportunity type:

Other

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature is the parliament of Gauteng, an institution that oversee the government work in the province. Its main functions are law making, Executive Council and Provincial Government Departments' accountability.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature is calling for abstracts for the Public Participation Conference (PPP Indaba) under the theme “The People Shall Govern: Public Participation Beyond Slogans”, to be held from 29 February to 2 March 2012 in Johannesburg.

The conference aims to share key insights and knowledge on improving citizens’ meaningful participation in governance processes. Also, the conference will seek to build a body of knowledge on public participation and civic education to benefit the legislative sector.

The specific objectives of the conference are to:

Build a body of knowledge to benefit the legislative sector;
Strengthen public participation strategies in governance processes;
Share knowledge and skills required to facilitate meaningful public participation;
Bridge the existing gap between theory and practice;
Invest in public participation initiatives in governance processes;
Enhance the role of legislatures/parliaments in facilitating public participation.

Authors are requested to submit empirical and theoretical abstracts on public participation (including case studies). These may reflect local, regional, national and international dimensions of public participation. Authors of selected abstracts will be requested to submit full papers that will be compiled into a book chapter for publication, following the Conference.

Below are the themes and sub-themes that guide areas to be covered in response to this call for abstracts:

Theme 1: Public Participation, International best	Theme 2: Public Participation, National perspectives practices	Theme 3: Public Participation at Local Government level
Sub-themes:	Sub-themes:	Sub-themes:
Public participation in integrated development plans of local municipalities: A case studyMainstreaming public participation in governance processes to inculcate a culture of civic involvement. Public participation in budget processes - the power of the purse - A case study. Effective petition systems in legislatures. Enabling systems, processes and organisational culture for promoting relevant and quality civic education and public reach.	The doctrine of the separation of powers: examining the integrated and interdependent arms of the State and the missing link in public participation. Mainstreaming public participation in governance processes to inculcate a culture of civic involvement Public participation in budget processes: A case for meaningful public involvement – the South African experience. Effective petition systems in legislatures Impact assessment of public participation processes	Public participation in integrated development plans (IDP) of local municipalities Public participation in Budget processes: A case for meaningful public involvement – Community/grassroots experiences

Authors are required to submit abstracts of between 100 and 1200 words by 9 December 2011. Included in the cover page of the abstract should be the title of the paper, the name of the author (s) and e-mail address (es).

Submit your abstract to J Robertson at JRobertson@gpl.gov.za or post to Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Private Bag X52, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa. Aslo, you can hand deliver to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (Corner President and Loveday Streets), Johannesburg (CBD).

Enquiries: E-mail: JRobertson@gpl.gov.za.

For more about the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, refer to http://gpl.gov.za.

To view other opportunities, visit www.ngopulse.org/group/home-page/other-opportunities.

Printer-friendly version

EU Grants Côte d'Ivoire €5m Emergency Humanitarian Aid
The European Union (EU) is to release an emergency humanitarian aid of €5 million for those threatened by the post-election crisis Côte d'Ivoire.

In a press statement, European commissioner in charge of international aid, Chritina Georgieva, points out that, “Our duty is to work out emergency plans and as soon as possible give humanitarian aid to the victims.”

Georgieva says the post-electoral troubles Côte d'Ivoire had displaced mass populations of 11 000 people to Ghana, Liberia and Guinea-Conakry.

The funds released will be managed by NGOs, humanitarian partners of EU and operating in Côte d'Ivoire.

To read the article titled, “EU grants Côte d'Ivoire five million euro emergency humanitarian aid,” click here.

Source:

Afrique en ligne
- Printer-friendly version
Pro-Gbagbo Forces Abducting Opponents – HRW
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) says security forces associated with Laurent Gbagbo are abducting and ‘disappearing’ his rival's supporters.

Citing statements from numerous witnesses, the organisation says the Ivorian leaders who order and encourage these kinds of grave human rights abuses could be held accountable by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Africa director at HRW, Rona Peligal, notes that, “Abducting, disappearing, and killing perceived political opponents are horrific human rights crimes, which can and should be punished."

"No Ivorian families should have to suffer this grave mistreatment," explains Peligal.

To read the article titled, “Côte d’Ivoire: Pro-Gbagbo forces abducting opponents,” click here.

Source:

Human Rights Watch
- Printer-friendly version
CCEDU Launches Elections SMS Platform
- CSOs
- elections
- mobiles
- NGOs
- SMS
- Uganda
NGOs, under the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), have launched a short messaging service (SMS) platform to receive complaints regarding the ongoing elections.

Godwin Byaruhanga, an official from CCEDU, says the campaign will involve appealing to the public to vote candidates basing on their ability to address social issues and not those who give them freebies.

The move is intended to promote transparency in the electoral process ahead of next year's general elections. The service will enable members of the public to send SMS any network and the messages will then be used to alert the Police and electoral officials about people's concerns.

To read the article titled, “NGOs launch elections SMS platform,” click here.

Source:

All Africa
- Printer-friendly version
Elections Put Fewer Women in Parliament – UNDP
According to the United Nations (UN), recent elections in East and Southern Africa have left fewer women in politics, placing countries at risk of not meeting equality targets.

Speaking at a women conference in Johannesburg, UN Development Programme director, Bo Asplund, pointed out that, "Elections in the region have shown regression with regard to women's representation in parliament."

Asplund said research has shown that when you have progress on the millennium development goal (MDG) of gender equity, there is automatic progress on two of the other MDGs -- poverty and maternal health.

To read the article titled, “African elections put fewer women in Parliament,” click here.

Source:

Mail&Guardian
- Printer-friendly version
Call for Civil Society to Develop Own Manifestos
The Peoples Organisation For Transparency Agency (POTA) has proposed for an immediate formulation of a parallel election manifesto which would reflect desires of majority of Tanzanians.

POTA maintains that it is high time for the civil society to come up with own manifesto which would incorporate the interests of many Tanzanians.

POTA president, Idrissa Masalu, argues that unlike the political parties which come up with own manifestos when the election approaches, the civil society should hold community consultation to develop issues Tanzanians think are of their paramount significance and priority.

To read the article titled, “NGO calls on civil societies to develop own manifestos,” click here.

Source:

All Africa
- Printer-friendly version
African Election Calendar 2011
Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa, a NGO striving for excellence in the promotion of credible elections, participatory democracy, human rights culture, and the strengthening of governance institutions for the consolidation of democracy in Africa, has compiled the African Election Calendar 2011. The calendar provides information on dates and country where the elections will be taking place.

To view the African Election Calendar 2011, click here.
- Printer-friendly version
Zimbabwe Not Ready for Elections – NGOs
NGOs have warned that efforts by President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party to push for elections in 2011 are likely to cause a slide back to the 2008 era of Zimbabwe's socio-economic and political crisis.

The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) Western Region chairperson, Godwin Phiri, says a recent annual general meeting of the organisation has resolved to advocate for a delay in the holding of the polls.

Phiri argues that stakeholders that attended the conference in Bulawayo had been unanimous that the country was not ready for the holding of elections.

"The NANGO directors that met in Bulawayo recently agreed that the situation in the country is still not yet ripe for elections," says Phiri.

To read the article titled, “NGOs warn country is not yet ready for elections,” click here.

Source:

Times Live
- Printer-friendly version
Rights Groups Warn Against New Zim Elections
Church and human rights groups in Zimbabwe have warned against new elections saying the situation in the country is ‘highly volatile, uncertain and tense’ after a bloody presidential run-off election two years ago.

In a press statement, the group, which include the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Christian Alliance and the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe, state that, "The polarised environment does not favour the holding of elections as violence would most likely erupt."

The group, whose comment comes after President Robert Mugabe's call for ZANU-PF supporters to prepare for elections in 2011, argues that the political environment remains highly volatile, uncertain, and tense in that country.

To read the article titled, “Church and human rights groups warn over elections,” click here.

Source:

All Africa
- Printer-friendly version
2010 Elections: Tanzanians Have Spoken
- elections
- Governance and democracy
Tanzanians headed to the polls in the country’s general elections which was held last Sunday. Despite being declared ‘free and fair, transparent’ by the six presidential candidates including - Jakaya Kikwete (Chama Cha Mapinduzi), Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba (Civic United Front) and Dr Wilbrod Slaa of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) – few challenges characterised these elections. Some eligible voters could not cast their votes because their names were not appearing on the voter register and the country’s National Election Commission (NEC) did nothing about it.

Many opposition supporters who protested the NEC’s failure to release the results, especially in opposition strongholds - Mwanza, Mbeya and Mara regions - feared the ruling party would still the votes as this has been the situation in many African countries. The protests overshadowed what was described by the voters as the best organised elections in terms of speed and efficiency. The protests saw police firing water cannon to disperse opposition protesters who had blocked roads and threw stones, empty bottles and some filled with urine at the police officers. One person was reported killed in Mara and other protectors injured in Mwanza regions.

Despite few problems that have been reported so far, many opposition supporters are happy with initial results which showed that certain ministers have already lost their seats to opposition candidates. Meanwhile, it is becoming clear President Kikwete is heading for another term in office.

- Sophia Komba is a human rights activist based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.