INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA

Transcription

1 CALL FOR ELECTORAL OBSERVERS INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA Elections to Congress (March 2018) and Presidency of the Republic (May and/or June 2018) 1. Call for Observers The Electoral Observation Mission (MOE) invites international citizens to become INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA for the Congressional and Presidential elections taking place in March, May and June respectively. DATE OF ELECTIONS: Congress, March 11, 2018 President first round, May 27, 2018 President second round (ballotage), June 17, CRITERIA TO BECOME ELECTORAL OBSERVER 1) Be a foreigner with permission to enter Colombian territory. 2) Be over 18 years old. 3) Acceptable knowledge of oral and written Spanish. 4) Basic knowledge of Colombia. 5) You must have medical insurance from a recognized entity. 6) Willingness to work in a mixed national and international team. 7) Physical and psychological resistance to be alert all day. 8) Interested in democracy and political participation 9) Must not be part of any political organization. 10) Belongs or is endorsed by an NGO, university, embassy or social institution. ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION - MOE The Electoral Observation Mission -MOE- is a platform of civil society organizations, independent of government, political parties and private interests, which promotes the realization of the right of every citizen to participate in the formation, exercise and control of political power. To achieve this goal, MOE works in concert with national and local platforms and networks that bring together nongovernmental and social organizations, women, trade unions, religious and university, among others. For more information see: Facebook: moecolombia pág. 1

2 3. FUNCTIONS OF AN ELECTORAL OBSERVER CRITERIA TO IDENTIFY A PROFICIENT ELECTORAL OBSERVER A good observer: a) Has a critical and reflective view of the electoral process grounded on general knowledge of the Country where elections take place. b) Does not use her position to favor a group or political ideology. c) Has the ability to identify their prejudices and ensure that they do not dominate their judgments or their analysis of the electoral process they observe. d) Is able to develop a short and well written report analyzing the elections. e) Is able to work in a diverse context, of high demand, interacting with many people and assuming a role of responsibility and leadership. f) Has an acceptable knowledge of the country and the political and social situation that frames the election. The INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA acts on behalf of Colombian civil society putting his eyes and ears at the service of democratic guarantees, always alert to identify and report possible irregularities. In accordance with the current regulations stipulated in Law 1475 of 2011, THE OBSERVER: Consult the training materials. These consist of documentation and / or videos about the Colombian political-electoral system, the context of the electoral process to the Congress / Presidency, the functions and activities of the observation on Election Day and the identified electoral risks. Visibly carries his / her observer credential issued by the National Electoral Council, which is the official authorization of the Colombian State to exercise its function. Wears a white shirt without any badge or logo. The only logo that can be used is that of MOE. If your organization belongs to Gndem or the Lima Agreement, you can wear the shirt with the logo of your organization. Monitors and writes the events that most attracts her attention on the day of the election. Redirects any request for information to the electoral authorities or the police agents who are present at the polling station. Provides information on irregularities to the international coordinator of MOE, so that they are reported according to the protocol established with the authorities. Does not give public statements that compromise the independence and objectivity of MOE or inform in any way (real or virtual) the voting results observed. Notifies the International Coordinator in the event of a serious and evident event that merits immediate denunciation. Completes the observation forms and send them to MOE s international coordinator by less than 24 hours after the election. Write a brief observation report, where general opinions and recommendations are presented regarding the electoral process The observer must comply with the itinerary of activities prepared by the MOE, to which she commits accepting this invitation. When an observer fails to comply with the code of ethics and conduct, he / she must hand over the credential to the MOE coordinator or to the Electoral Authorities present. pág. 2

3 4. REGISTRATION The registration form found at the end of this document (Appendix 1), must be completed and sent via BEFORE FEBRUARY 15 th, If you want to observe in Bogota, send your application to: The person that coordinates electoral observers in Bogotá is Mónika Barrios You may contact her at or (+57) Si quiere observar AFUERA de Bogotá, diríjase al correo: The person that coordinates electoral observers in Bogotá is Andrés Gómez. You may contact him at or (+57) TRAINING TO BE AN ELECTORAL OBSERVER To be authorized as an electoral observer by MOE, everyone must attend the training workshop. This consists of a training session focusing on the Colombian political-electoral system, the context of the electoral process to observe and the electoral risks that must be observed. 6. ACCREDITATION Accreditation as an INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA will be granted by the National Electoral Council and delivered to the observers via MOE provided that the code of ethics and conduct are agreed and signed by the observer. The accreditation grants the INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA authorization to engage in electoral observation in Colombian territory. 7. COSTS AND FINANCING All costs (local transportation, food, etc.) are paid by International observers in Colombia. MOE is exclusively responsible for the delivery of the information, materials and guides necessary to support the electoral monitoring process. 8. PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR OBSERVATION IN OF COLOMBIA Day and time of training workshop is to be defined 07:50-08:25: Welcome and registration to the event. 08:30-09:35: Brief summary of the Colombian electoral political system. 09:35-09:50: Coffee 09:50-11:05: Analysis of the political-electoral context. 11:10-12:30: Training for Election Day. Day before deployment. Observers meet with regional coordinators to review observation routes, key contacts in territory and final confirmation with MOE International Election day 07:00-07:55: Encounter of the delegation and start of the route. 08:00-16:00: Election Day opening of voting and traveling stations. 16:00-18:00: Observation of the vote count. pág. 3

4 .APPENDIX 1 Registration for INTERNATIONAL ELECTORAL OBSERVER IN COLOMBIA Please complete this form and send it back to internacional@moe.org.co (outside Bogotá) or internacionalesmoe@moe.org.co (within Bogotá) BEFORE February 15 TH Please attach a profile photo and a letter explaining why you want to be an electoral observer. Organizacional information: Name of the Organization: Country: City: Address: Phone Number: Website: Point of contact in the organization: Phone Number: Are you a member of any of these organizations? GNDEM Acuerdo de Lima Personal Information * (Please complete this information for each volunteer participating in the organization s name) Names: Occupation and title: Phone (Country code) + (phone): Identification type: Surnames: Skype: City/municipality you are interested in observing Level of Spanish: High Medium Basic Health Insurance Provider: T-shirt size: Identification number: Number: pág. 4

5 Emergency contact in Colombia Names: Telephone: Address: EXCLUSIVE SPACE FOR MOE Notes Emergency contact in country of residence Names: Telephone: Address: Why do you wish to observe the elections?: pág. 5

6 APPENDIX 2 RECOMMENDED HOTELS IN BOGOTA 1. Abitare 56 Hotel Address: Calle 56 # 7 79 Reservation: Price: $ $ Hotel Viaggio Dorms Address: Transv. 4 # Reservation:: Price: $ $ L Etoile Hotel Address: Cra.7 # Reservation:: Price: $ $ Hotel Boutique Alma Address: Cra. 5 # Reservation:: Price: $ $ pág. 6

7 APPENDIX 3 In the 2015 subnational elections international observers where present in the following municipalities. Department ANTIOQUIA ANTIOQUIA ANTIOQUIA ATLÁNTICO BOGOTÁ BOLÍVAR CALDAS CASANARE CAUCA CESAR CESAR CESAR CHOCÓ CHOCÓ CUNDINAMARCA CUNDINAMARCA LA GUAJIRA LA GUAJIRA LA GUAJIRA MAGDALENA MAGDALENA META NARIÑO NORTE DE SANTANDER NORTE DE SANTANDER NORTE DE SANTANDER RISARALDA SANTANDER SANTANDER TOLIMA VALLE DEL CAUCA VALLE DEL CAUCA Municipality MEDELLÍN APARTADÓ BURITICÁ BARRANQUILLA BOGOTÁ EL CARMEN DE BOLÍVAR MANIZALES YOPAL POPAYÁN PUEBLO BELLO LA JAGUA DE IBIRICO VALLEDUPAR QUIBDÓ CARMEN DEL DARIÉN SOACHA COTA RIOHACHA MAICAO DISTRACCIÓN ARACATACA SANTA MARTA VILLAVICENCIO PASTO CÚCUTA TIBÚ OCAÑA PEREIRA BUCARAMANGA BARRANCABERMEJA IBAGUÉ CALI BUENAVENTURA pág. 7