it
en
fr
es
eo
Nl
The Venice Declaration
Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes
in the broader Middle East and North Africa
Venice, 21-23 July 2005
The Venice Declaration
At the conclusion of the Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the broader Middle East and North Africa, organised by No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), in partnership with the European Inter-University Centre on Human Rights and Democratisation, attended by more than 120 participants, including political and civil society leaders from nineteen countries of the region (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), held in Venice on 21-23 July 2005;
Considering that the Venice Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the broader Middle East and North Africa is part of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) Program, sponsored by Italy, Turkey and Yemen in the framework of the Forum for the Future and implemented by No Peace Without Justice, Italy, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), and the Human Rights Information and Training Centre, Yemen (HRITC):
In order to develop specific recommendations for an agenda of dialogue between non-governmental actors and governments in the context of the DAD, including the forthcoming DAD meeting planned in Morocco and the Forum for the Future meeting planned in Bahrain, to foster productive dialogue between civil society, governments and parliaments of the broader Middle East and North Africa, integrating participation of intellectuals, political leaders, media representatives and civil society activists and facilitating specific initiatives on issues relating to political reform, democracy and human rights;
Considering that the workshop developed through three panels, respectively on Standards, status and role of Political Parties, Electoral systems and rules, passive and active electorates, electoral monitoring, and Access to the Media for political parties and civil society organisations, that have resulted in a number of recommendations endorsed by the plenary at its final session on Saturday, 23 July 2005;
We, the participants, recommend that
The principles emerging from the Workshop Panels be the starting points of the dialogue between governments and civil society in the region as part of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue program.
We, the Participants:
Express appreciation to No Peace Without Justice for convening and organising this Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the BMENA Region and for ensuring a fruitful working environment, as well as to EIUC and chairs, rapporteurs, discussants, speakers and all those who have taken the floor and/or given written statements for having contributed to the outcome of the workshop;
Thank the Italian Government for facilitating the attendance of participants, the two other DAD Governments sponsors, Turkey and Yemen, for their participation in the Workshop, as well as government donors for providing the resources necessary for the organisation and follow-up of this Workshop.
Done in Venice, 23 July 2005.
in the broader Middle East and North Africa
Venice, 21-23 July 2005
The Venice Declaration
At the conclusion of the Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the broader Middle East and North Africa, organised by No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), in partnership with the European Inter-University Centre on Human Rights and Democratisation, attended by more than 120 participants, including political and civil society leaders from nineteen countries of the region (Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), held in Venice on 21-23 July 2005;
Considering that the Venice Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the broader Middle East and North Africa is part of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) Program, sponsored by Italy, Turkey and Yemen in the framework of the Forum for the Future and implemented by No Peace Without Justice, Italy, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), and the Human Rights Information and Training Centre, Yemen (HRITC):
In order to develop specific recommendations for an agenda of dialogue between non-governmental actors and governments in the context of the DAD, including the forthcoming DAD meeting planned in Morocco and the Forum for the Future meeting planned in Bahrain, to foster productive dialogue between civil society, governments and parliaments of the broader Middle East and North Africa, integrating participation of intellectuals, political leaders, media representatives and civil society activists and facilitating specific initiatives on issues relating to political reform, democracy and human rights;
Considering that the workshop developed through three panels, respectively on Standards, status and role of Political Parties, Electoral systems and rules, passive and active electorates, electoral monitoring, and Access to the Media for political parties and civil society organisations, that have resulted in a number of recommendations endorsed by the plenary at its final session on Saturday, 23 July 2005;
We, the participants, recommend that
The principles emerging from the Workshop Panels be the starting points of the dialogue between governments and civil society in the region as part of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue program.
We, the Participants:
Express appreciation to No Peace Without Justice for convening and organising this Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes in the BMENA Region and for ensuring a fruitful working environment, as well as to EIUC and chairs, rapporteurs, discussants, speakers and all those who have taken the floor and/or given written statements for having contributed to the outcome of the workshop;
Thank the Italian Government for facilitating the attendance of participants, the two other DAD Governments sponsors, Turkey and Yemen, for their participation in the Workshop, as well as government donors for providing the resources necessary for the organisation and follow-up of this Workshop.
Done in Venice, 23 July 2005.
