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On October 20, 2022, the Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa, host of the 5th General Assembly, will organize an international conference on a theme that impacts the state of electoral democracy in the world. The theme for the conference is Safeguarding Election Management Bodies in the Age of Global Democratic Recession. The Commission has invited internationally renowned scholars to present papers on the theme. Former President Thabo Mbeki will also be a guest speaker at this international conference. Other participants in the conference will include experts from international organizations, including IDEA, ODIHR, UN, UNDP and others, members of the National Party Liaison Committee, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, heads of Institutions Supporting Democracy and local researchers. A draft program of the international conference is attached. This conference will last from 08:00 h to 18:00 h and comprises five sessions as below, with opening and closing sessions.
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SESSION
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Theme
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Chaired by
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Remark
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1
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THE
SETTING: THEORY AND PRACTICE
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Professor
Victoria Graham, University of Pretoria
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Overview
of the current state of global democratic recession
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2
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DEMOCRATIC
RECESSION IMPACT ON ELECTORAL PROCESSES
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Dr.
Roselyn Akombe, UNDP Governance and Peace-building Regional Coordinator,
Regional Service Centre for Africa
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Impact
of democratic recession on the electoral processes including on EMB
performance, public participation, and election integrity
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3
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MITIGATION
MEASURES: A PANEL OF CONTINENTAL EMBs FORA
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Honourable
Justice Priscilla Chigumba, Chairperson of the ECF-SADC Executive Committee
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A
snapshot of the different initiatives at continental level in mitigating the
impact of democratic recession in electoral processes
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4
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MITIGATION
MEASURES THROUGH ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE
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Mr.
Tracy Capaldi Drewett, Executive Director, International Centre for
Parliament Studies (ICPS)
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Case
study experiences of leading electoral assistance agencies in confronting the
excesses of democratic recession and strengthening the resilience of EMBs and
electoral democracy
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5
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MITIGATION
MEASURES BY INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODIES
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Dr.
Ayodele Odusola, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program
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Interventions
by intergovernmental bodies in addressing democratic recession particularly,
how they have prevented the growth of populism, authoritarian rhetoric and
practices undermining democratic ideals
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The GA meeting schedule is found at the link below: http://aweb.org/eng/bbs/B0000013/view.do?nttId=15386&searchCnd=&searchWrd=&gubun=1&delcode=0&useAt=&replyAt=&menuNo=300041&sdate=&edate=&deptId=&isk=&ise=&viewType=&type=&countrySn=&pageIndex=1
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