Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

5.2.6) Monitoring of the Elections for 3 Local Councils in the Gaza Strip on 15
September (the Fourth Stage)
Activities included:
• The unit selected 19 observers, one for each polling station, but the Higher
Committee for Local Elections accredited only 6 observers, including two women.
Two observers were devoted to each electoral constituency, as the Committee
imposed limitations on local observation.
• The observers were trained to monitor these elections.
• The unit observed the whole electoral process, including the registration of voters,
nomination for candidature, election campaigning, polling and the counting of
votes, in cooperation with the Field Work Unit.
• The unit issued a report evaluating these elections.
Means of Verification
o PCHR played a major role as a local observation body.
o Monitoring was highly organized and PCHR observers were present in all polling
stations throughout the Gaza Strip.
o 196 observers, including 63 women, participated in the monitoring of the three
stages of local council elections in the Gaza Strip.
o Reports written by the unit drew a clear and transparent picture of the electoral
process.
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 The inclusion of women in monitoring campaigns served to promote the status of
women. It is part of overall efforts made by the unit, and by PCHR in general, to
empower women in the OPT.
5.3) Monitoring of Legislative Elections
By the end of 2005, the unit had almost completed preparations to monitor the
legislative elections, which would be held on 25 January 2005, in cooperation with
dozens of other NGOs, including al-Dameer – Prisoners' Support and Human Rights
Association, the Palestine Bar Association and the Women's Affairs Center. For this
purpose, the unit selected 500 observers, half of whom were women, to monitor these
elections. By the end of 2005, the unit and the Training Unit had trained 265 of these
observers. Most of the other observers had been previously trained to participate in
PCHR's campaigns to monitor the presidential election and local council elections.
Activities in preparation for the monitoring of the legislative elections included:
• The unit held a consultative meeting with representatives from at least 40 civil
society organizations in the Gaza Strip on 23 May, to discuss organising a
campaign to monitor the elections.
• The unit, in cooperation with the Training Unit, selected at least 500 observers,
half of whom were women, to monitor these elections.
• The unit, in cooperation with the Training Unit, held 5 meetings with observers in
October and November to discuss the procedures for their accreditation by the
Central Elections Commission.
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