Integrity Pact for Free, Fair, and Democratic Elections

INTEGRITY PACT FOR FREE, FAIR, AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

We, the Signatories to this Integrity Pact: representatives of nongovernmental organizationsof the one part, and representatives of the political parties in the Somali Federal Republic on the other part,

expressing our conviction that the main civil and political task of the institutions, parties, non-governmental organizations and the media in the present crisis is to do their utmost so as to facilitate the conduct of fair, free and democratic elections,

acknowledging that institutions and political parties should serve society and the public interest and only thus can foster the functioning of genuine democracy in this country,

expressing our conviction of the need of broad citizen participation in the elections, as a result of which legitimate democratic institutions, working to the benefit of Somali citizens, would be formed,

realizing that the internationally established standards for conduct of elections should be invariably followed and should be used as a tool to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of the institutions which prepare the electoral process,

have united behind the need for taking the following specific steps:

І. POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA COMMIT TO FACILITATE THE CONDUCT OF FAIR, FREE, DEMOCRATIC, AND TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS BY MEANS OF THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL ACTIONS:

1. They will train their candidates for office in anticorruption.

2. They will take part in campaigns against vote-selling, explaining the negative impact of vote-selling to the future of the country.

3. To ensure transparency, they will publicise the number of their election campaigners no later than one month before elections.

4. Respecting the law, they will share the figures of their election financial contributions with the Auditor General of Somalia.

5. They will work with monitors from Civil Society who will oversee the electoral process and monies being spent on the elections.

ІІ. MARQAATI COMMITS TO:

1. Conduct an independent monitoring of the elections, in line with international standards, and inform the public of the results of the monitoring.

2. Abide by rules of political impartiality, transparency, and integrity in the conduct of its responsibility in this document.

3. Carry out awareness raising campaigns to educate the public about the electoral process, obligations of institutions, and the negative impact of vote-selling and buying.

4. Inform the Somali public of violations through the exertion of pressures, attempts to buy and sell votes, and other electoral violations.

5. the basis of the results and the analysis of the conducted observation, to organize an advocacy campaign in favour of future legislative, organizational and administrative changes for the purpose of guaranteeing the freedom and legitimacy of the next elections.

This Pact enters into force when it is signed.
SIGNATURE OF THE MARQAATI REP:
DATE SIGNED: / SIGNATURE OF THE PART REP AND THE PARTY FOR WHICH HE SIGNED:
DATE SIGNED: