Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

including the Palestine Bar Association, al-Dameer – Prisoners' Support and
Human Rights Association, the Women's Affairs Center and the Cana'an Institute.
o Monitoring was highly organized and PCHR observers were present in all polling
centers throughout the Gaza Strip.
o PCHR demonstrated a high level of professionalism in all reports produced These
reports were commended by the Central Elections Commission and circulated to
NGOs, public figures and political parties.
o 98 observers were female, constituting 34% of the total number of observers.
o PCHR was successful in establishing a group of election observers that would be
in a position to contribute to PCHR's future campaigns to monitor elections.
o Efforts made by PCHR, its partners and other local and international observers in
monitoring demonstrated the transparency, fairness and credibility of the electoral
process.
o The Central Elections Commission responded positively to PCHR's notes
regarding the electoral process.
5.2) Monitoring of Local Council Elections
The unit monitored local council elections that were held at various stages throughout
2005. By the end of the year, four of the five stages of these elections had been held.
The unit monitored the three stages of elections that were held in the Gaza Strip (the
first, the second and the fourth stages). The third stage of elections was limited to the
West Bank.
5.2.1) Monitoring of Elections for 10 Local Councils in the Gaza Strip on 27
January (the First Stage)
Activities included:
• The unit selected and trained 80 observers, including 20 women, to monitor these
elections.
• The unit monitored the polling and counting of votes on 27 January.
• The unit issued a preliminary evaluation of the electoral process on 28 January.
• The unit held a meeting to acknowledge the efforts of the observers on 3
February.
• The unit issued a final report evaluating the electoral process on 13 March. A
copy of the report was sent to the Higher Committee for Local Elections, the body
which organizes the local council elections.
5.2.2) Monitoring of Elections for 8 Local Councils in the Gaza Strip on 5 May
(the Second Stage)
Activities included:
• The unit selected 110 observers, including 41 women, to monitor these elections.
This number included 28 new observers, who were trained by the unit in
cooperation with the Training Unit.
• The unit applied to the Higher Committee for Local Elections to accredit 48
observers who were new or whose accreditation cards had expired.
• The unit monitored the election campaigns during the period from 21 April to 4
May.
• The unit monitored the polling and counting of votes on 5 May.
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