ELECTION OBSERVATION: MR. DRISS EL YAZAMI MEETS DELEGATION OF PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

This European delegation was carrying out a pre-election observation of the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 25, 2011.

During this meeting, Mr. El Yazami indicated that CNDH has coordinated the various stages of election observation, in accordance with its founding law and Law # 30-11, laying down the terms and conditions of neutral and independent election observation.

The Special Commission for the Accreditation of Election Observers, chaired by the (Moroccan) National Human Rights Council (CNDH), accredited more than 4000 observers from 11 Moroccan civil society associations and 4 international NGOs. 250 CNDH observers and observers from inter-governmental organizations invited by the Council will also take part in this observation.

CNDH president noted that the Council organized four training sessions to train trainers, who will themselves train election observers. These training sessions revolved around the principles and techniques of observation, national and international experiences in the area and the legislative framework governing parliamentary elections in Morocco.

Concerning CNDH observation, Mr. El Yazami said the Council’s observers are required to submit a daily report on the election campaign. Their observation concerns particularly the use of violence, possible use of public facilities, etc. in the election campaign or smear campaigns. During the election day, he added, they will observe whether law is applied and whether accessibility is provided for people with disabilities in the polling stations. In terms of qualitative observation on gender, observers will report the presence of women as representatives of political parties at the polls.

The European delegation, chaired by Mr. Tomas Jirsa, was concerned by the observation and participation in elections of Moroccans living abroad. Mr. Tomas stressed at the end of the meeting that "the role of international observers is to observe proper conduct of elections, but not to interfere in the electoral process or to give lessons on how elections should be organized”.

On November 25, 2011, a 20-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be deployed in the country to observe the voting. A report will be published following their observation.