The main objective and focus of the UNDP assistance will be to help strengthen the democratic character of Macedonian elections by promoting women’s electoral rights through reducing to the maximum extent the incidence of family, group and proxy voting during the next elections which are initially foreseen for the first half of 2009. It is expected that the assistance will, therefore, also contribute to the achievement of the country’s compliance with the political requirements for EU accession. The assistance should be operational at least 2 years before the scheduled date of elections as sufficient time is needed for producing the attitudinal change necessary for improving women’s electoral rights. Having in mind that the project will address and challenge traditional views and existing stereotypes about the role of women in the society and decision-making authority at the family, a culturally sensitive and multifaceted approach will be employed. UNDP assistance will be multifaceted, including activities necessary for the empowerment of women from rural areas to exercise their voting rights; strengthening the accountability of national/local election bodies; empowering and partnering with civil society organizations; and raising awareness of young voters, local opinion leaders and party leaders on the negative impact of proxy and family voting and their role in addressing it. It will also address the capacity building requirements of SEC and the electoral bodies to implement their responsibilities in avoiding the incidence of family voting and will analyze and address, as need be, the role of electoral law enforcement bodies. The participation of local NGOs is considered critical for the success of the project, as they are often better positioned to influence citizens’ attitudinal change. MAIN ACTIVITIES: - The first step of the initiative will be to conduct an in-depth project formulation during which the root-causes of proxy and family voting in Macedonia will be analyzed. It will also include the identification of a detailed strategy, outcomes and activities to be undertaken by the project;
- The educational activities should at least target rural women and men in the areas where higher incidence of family voting takes place as well as youth (16-18 years old) possibly through collaboration with local schools. The introduction of mandatory civic education in the education curricula maybe also considered as a way to address stereotypes from the young age;
- Awareness-raising activities will be carried out directed to local opinion leaders, local government, parliamentary committees and political party members;
- Capacity building activities will be directed towards strengthening the capacities of election administration bodies, SEC and MECs, particularly that of women civil servants representing national minorities;
- A sustained public information campaign will be launched in cooperation with the State Electoral Commission, using public broadcasting and posted images in local languages that communicate acceptable and non-acceptable electoral behaviour, focused on proxy and family voting.
UNDP will also advocate with international organizations and embassies, for them to raise their concerns about the proxy and family voting as serious violation of human rights in their bilateral meetings with national counterparts and incorporate their concerns in broad public messages. |
