The Arab Network for the Monitoring of Elections

The Arab Observatory for Elections:

Since the early 2006, the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies launched the Arab Network for the Monitoring of Elections. The purpose of launching the network was to build an inter-Arab base and to create coordinated efforts among the forces of the Arab civil society organizations with a view to strengthening the trend toward understanding the concepts of the democratic principles of the elections with its three dimensions, i.e. municipal, parliamentary, and presidential. The function of the network is to monitor, follow up and watch the processes and facts pertaining to the elections in the Arab World.

Several local elections have been held and are still being held in the Arab World. They were accompanied with prominent issues that have influenced the democratic process of the elections. This makes the question of watching the elections a must. Joint Arab efforts should be made to produce successful democratic elections.

The Arab Observatory for Elections is part of the work of the Arab Network for the Monitoring of elections, which includes several Arab civil organizations from a number of Arab countries.

The mechanism of work of this observatory will be expanded to cover more comprehensive and broader information in the upcoming periods.

The observatory also seeks to invite the independent Arab media to become involved so as to secure a neutral and democratic media coverage of the elections.

Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) is an independent, scientific and non-governmental centre for studies, research and training in Jordan. Thus, the ACHRS refrains from carrying out any activities, which might negatively affect its neutrality or scientific objectivity.

The objectives of ACHRS is to monitor the basic transformations in human rights and to contribute to the introduction of a change in the civil society and in the pattern of social, democratic upbringing. It also seeks to help in spreading and strengthening human rights culture in the Arab World.

Be committed to all the criteria that are contained in the provisions of international and regional conventions and declarations on human rights issued by the UN or the regional, Arab organizations.

The ACHRS seeks to achieve its goals through educational, intellectual, and cultural activities, which includes theoretical and applied research and studies, convening of conferences, seminars, workshops and study sessions, offering consultations, technical and scientific services, training courses and publishing bulletins, publications, reports and specialized periodical on human rights.

In the pursuit of its goals, the ACHRS will cooperate with local, Arab and international institutions and associations, whose activities are compatible with ACHRS activities.
The Goals of the ACHRS

1- To provide a scientifically-based statistical and information base on the local, regional and international human rights declarations, covenants, and conventions.
2- To provide a democratic platform for dialogue, coordination and integration of the efforts of the human rights governmental and non-governmental organizations.
3- To disseminate the human rights culture and to spread knowledge of it to all those who are interested in the various civil society institutions and government institutions.
4- To help governmental and non-governmental organizations in monitoring, documenting, and following up the human rights situation and to strengthen and upgrade human rights on all the legislative and applied levels.
5- To pay special attention to the human rights of the fragile segments of society, such as the children, old people, and people with special needs.
6- To participate in the building of the state that is governed by law, institutions and the democratic humanitarian society.
7- To participate in the process of reviewing the local legislation, laws and instructions and to offer scientific proposals to adapt them to the international norms of human rights.
8- To contribute to the strengthening of the humanitarian rights of women so as to enable them to effectively participate in public life and in decision making.
 

The beneficiaries from the Center

1- Governmental and non-governmental organizations functioning in the field of human rights.
2- Academics and university and higher institute students.
3- Civil society organizations.
4- Personnel employed by the judicial, legislative and law-enforcement departments.
5- Media workers and journalists.
6- Personnel employed by international and regional organizations operating in the field of human rights.