XVI Conferencia de la UNIORE: “Papel central de la información en los procesos electorales”

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic, represented by the Central Electoral Board (JCE) and the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), hosted the XV Conference of the Inter-American Union of Electoral Organizations (UNIORE), on days 1 and 2 of November at the Embassy Suite by Hilton Hotel in the city of Santo Domingo.

The event coincided with the 30th anniversary of the entity that brings together 33 electoral bodies, bringing together 52 delegates from more than 19 member countries.

After finishing the work, the document that includes 20 points agreed during the XV UNIORE Conference was signed.

Download: Acuerdos XV Conferencia UNIORE - República Dominicana - 1 y 2 de noviembre 2021

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In order to compare successful practices, academic events were promoted to address the topic of campaign financing and a Training and Certification Center on technical-electoral observation, aimed at authorities and officials of UNIORE member organizations; and the creation of working groups was agreed upon on the following topics: independence and strengthening of electoral authorities and the use of new technologies in electoral processes.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Strengthening of the electoral authorities
• Independence
• Professionalism
• International Cooperation

As part of the XXV Anniversary of the foundation, the progress of electoral reform proposals in the region was taken up again on different topics: equity in the electoral contest, public and private financing of political parties, voting modalities, equality of political and electoral rights between men and women, and the study of predominant values was proposed in order to consider the best ways to identify and disseminate practices and attitudes in accordance with a democratic civic culture.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Electoral Reform in Latin America

In order to generate useful information that is not currently available, it was agreed to conduct a systematic and comprehensive research on the cost of elections in the Americas and it was recommended that academic interventions of electoral bodies from the English-speaking Caribbean be considered in order to have their experiences and open effective direct channels aimed at their greater integration. It also encouraged the implementation of a methodology that would make it possible to review the observations and technical recommendations expressed by the electoral bodies in their reports between elections.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Mechanisms of direct democracy for better citizen participation

Emphasize the importance of legislative regulation of official and non-official advertising, as well as the assignment of control instruments to electoral bodies, respecting the context of each country and complying with due process; support initiatives for the creation and consolidation of training schools and institutes within the member electoral bodies of UNIORE.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Electoral Bodies, Media and Elections

Promote the development or compilation of studies on the issue of women's representation in high-level positions in the countries, such as Congress, to improve gender equity; and, horizontal cooperation was encouraged among organizations that have developed or acquired technological systems for electronic voting and canvassing, in order to create a platform that can be adapted by the different systems in the region.

Topics discussed in the sessions:

• Political Parties financing and accountability
• Media and elections
• Use of technologies and transparency on electoral processes
• Inclusion in democracy of vulnerable groupos through civic education and electoral justice