In conjunction with the holding of the 37th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva

Three international and local organizations announced the Integrity Coalition to follow up on the 2018 presidential elections in Egypt

 

In the context of its preparations to follow up on the Egyptian presidential elections, and after it obtained the approval of the National Elections Authority, and out of its belief in the importance of integration between local and international follow-up to present a picture closer to perfection on the evaluation of the electoral process from the perspective of internationally recognized standards for free and fair elections, organizations agreed. Volunteers Without Borders ”(Lebanon), the Ecumenical Organization for Human Rights and Development in Geneva (Switzerland), and the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights (Egypt), to form the“ Integrity ”coalition to follow up on the 2018 Egyptian presidential elections, which are scheduled to hold the polling stage for Egyptians in the period from 26 to March 28, 2018.

The three organizations had held intensive meetings on the sidelines of the 37th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to discuss all the necessary arrangements and agree on the methodology and mechanisms of work, and the meetings resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the parties participating in the coalition clarifying the procedures governing the follow-up process, and the distribution of roles among the partners, And the schedule of follow-up activities, their geographical spread, the system for issuing reports and affidavits, and the organizations agreed to follow the stage of publicity, polling, counting, announcing results and appeals.

It is worth noting that the three organizations have obtained permits for 875 local followers, and 63 international observers of different nationalities. It was agreed that the follow-up process would cover 14 Egyptian governorates, with approximately 50% of the total governorates.

The members of the Integrity Coalition agreed that Mr. Riyad Issa, head of the Volunteers Without Borders Association, would be the general coordinator of the coalition, and Mr. Ayman Aqeel, head of the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights, as an official spokesman for the coalition and responsible for the local follow-up component. And Mr. Ayman Nasri, President of the Ecumenical Organization for Human Rights, is in charge of the international follow-up team

The coalition will begin its work during the electoral campaigning phase currently underway with a limited number of international observers and a larger number of local followers, while the coalition will intensify its presence during the polling and screening phase for Egyptians at home from 26 to 28 March 2018.

The coalition will issue a set of reports and testimonies that clarify its evaluation of the electoral process at the end of the electoral campaign phase, then daily statements during the polling and counting stages. The coalition will also issue a first report to assess the overall electoral process within three days of the conclusion of the polling and counting phase, and a press conference will be held to announce the results. Follow-up process.

It is worth noting that the Integrity Coalition adheres to the rules and procedures regulating the participation of civil society organizations in following up the electoral processes, and is mainly based on internationally recognized standards for integrity and freedom of general elections, as well as international instruments for the protection of human rights related to political participation and electoral competition.