Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to Protect Rights and Freedoms and Address Complaints During Local Elections

SadaNews - The Central Elections Commission signed a memorandum of understanding today, Tuesday, with the Independent Commission for Human Rights and the Civil Coalition for Election Support and Oversight, to enhance joint cooperation and create an electoral environment that protects the rights and freedoms of citizens and ensures the highest standards of integrity and transparency, in addition to receiving and addressing citizens' complaints throughout all stages of the electoral process, from candidacy to campaigning and voting. The memorandum includes coordinating efforts and enabling citizens to exercise their constitutional right freely, and facilitating the exchange of information between the parties involved.

The signing took place at the headquarters of the Central Elections Commission in Al-Bireh, in the presence of Dr. Rami Hamdallah, Chairman of the Commission, Issam Arouri, the General Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, and its Director General Dr. Ammar Dweik, and Aref Jafal representing the Civil Coalition, along with a number of coalition members and the executive team of the Electoral Commission.

Dr. Hamdallah affirmed that the signing of the memorandum comes to enhance integrity and equal opportunities, emphasizing the Commission's commitment to providing an electoral environment that ensures citizens' political rights are exercised freely and democratically, and bolsters public trust in the electoral process, while institutional oversight is enshrined at all election stages.

Mr. Issam Arouri noted that the memorandum reflects the national role of the Commission in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, emphasizing the handling of any potential violations to ensure equality and non-discrimination, and working in coordination with partners to address complaints efficiently and promptly.

For his part, Dr. Ammar Dweik urged citizens, both candidates and voters, that if they experience any form of harassment, they should approach the Commission, as it monitors the electoral process.

Meanwhile, Mr. Aref Jafal stated that the coalition will continue to coordinate the efforts of civil society institutions to support and oversee the electoral process, along with implementing awareness programs for all segments of society, especially women and youth, to enhance informed political participation.

The memorandum includes cooperation mechanisms for information exchange, complaint handling, and support for oversight and awareness efforts, with any cases of rights and freedoms violations referred to the Independent Commission for follow-up according to its legal jurisdiction.

The signing parties affirmed that this partnership represents a practical step towards establishing free and fair local elections that protect citizens' rights and reflect their will throughout all stages of the electoral process until the announcement of the final results.