Informal Mechanisms to Resolve Election related Conflicts

1
Informal Mechanisms to Resolve Election related
Conflicts

• Derrick Marco
• Technical Director STAND
• Idasa Nigeria

2
Presentation Sections

• Section 1
• - What - Conflict tracking with Responses
• - Why - Negative conflict
• Section 2 How
• - Institutional Electoral Performance
  Conflict Tracking Instrument
• - (3) Stages of conflict where to intervene
• - Information Communication Hub
• - Response Mechanisms
• Section 3 Result
• - Desirable outcomes

3
Section 1 _______________________________________
_______

• Conflict Tracking with Response Mechanisms
• are unprecedented -
• In the arena of election administration
• Designed as a Information Communication Hub
  that gathers information and rapidly responds
  after careful but politically non-partial
  analysis

4

• __________________________________________________
  _______
• Section 1 cont.
• __________________________________________________
  _______
• COMPETITION CAN ALSO PRODUCE NEGATIVE CONFLICT
• Negative conflict within election competition is
  conflict that arises because the contenders are
  not prepared to wait on the outcome of results
• Instead there is often a systematic attempt
  throughout the election cycle to organise the
  outcome in favour of oneself or your party
• In classical election language it is called
  rigging, for the conflict specialist it is called
  negative conflict

5

• __________________________________________________
  ______________
• Section 1 cont.
• __________________________________________________
  ______________
• Psychological violence
• Anxiety, fear, mistrust, lack of confidence
• outcome withdrawal apathy
• Physical violence
• insecurity, loss of lives
• outcome non participation stay away
• Material
• Destruction or damage to property etc.
• outcome internal displacement

6
Section 2a Information Hub ___________________
___________________________

• Conflict Tracking is a system for
• Gathering information on conflict that can
  negatively impact on elections
• Collating information in a report format
• Plotting information on a country map (GIS) so
  that we can determine where the problems are

7
Section 2b Communication Hub __________________
____________________________

• The mechanisms used to respond to the conflicts
  are varied
• Eminent persons to speak to the conscience
  usually at a national level, but also at regional
  level
• Media is a useful tool to shock and advocate for
  peace
• Public campaigns are very interesting but require
  very good symbols around which people can rally

8
Informal mechanisms for the management of
conflicts during election cycles
______________________________________________

• The mechanisms used to respond to the conflicts
  can also be
• Mobilization of communities to build peace pacts
• Mobilization of key civil society groups like
  women who have the capacity to provide sanity in
  otherwise extremely volatile situations
• Security Forces often need to be brought together
  and informed
• Political Parties can sign off on peace pacts and
  agreements on their conduct during elections

9
Information Communication Hub_________________
_______

• Institutional indicators and triggers tracked and
  responded to -

ELECTRONIC MEDIA
PRINT MEDIA
Eminent persons
Media
International Pressure
CONFLICT TRACKING -Gathering Collating
Plotting Disseminating
Public Campaigns
Organising political parties
Community Mobilization
Organising Security forces
Mobilization of Special interest Groups
SECURITY - OTHER REPORTS
CIVIL SOCIETY VERIFICATION
10
Section 3Possible Results or desirable
outcomes___________________________________

• Institutional outcome
• Security forces working together
• Electoral Body informed
• Judiciary more engaged
• Institutional legitimacy
• Trust and respect for the rule of law
• More informed and engaged international community

• Societal outcomes
• Political parties buy in to non violence
• Youth energy re-directed to positive engagement
• Communities more secure
• Voters have freedom to exercise their mandate
  without fear of discrimination
• Perpetrators are named and shamed
• Better informed society