Topic: Promoting Peaceful Post-Election Transitions
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Tracy Norcross
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Australia position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Throughout today and the recent past, nations like Kenya, Zimbabwe, Bosnia and Georgia are plagued by post-election violence. They have had leaders for countless years and with the onset of an election, opposing parties have not been happy. Sometimes the vote count has taken such a long time to the point where people believe there has been hampering with the outcome. Or the leaders refuse to give up their power. Even in Afghanistan, the election was peaceful, but was fallowed by a summer of extreme violence. In Kenya, where violence is typically rare, the people have been protesting the announcement that the president had been re-elected (1). The result has been also questioned by the European Union with their doubts of the legitimacy of the results.
Australia as a part of the United Nations has had the opportunity to see the ills of countries affected with post-election violence. As a parliamentary democracy, we have been able to serve our people with fair elections. With the assurance to our people that they are fair and quick Australia has been a prime example to developing countries. Australia also believes in aiding countries who have expressed need in this area.
In the 62nd session of the General Assembly, Australia voted for the resolution (2) which was created to strengthen the role of the UN in enhancing the success of the principle of pristine elections and the promotion of democratization. It recognizes the need for strengthening democratic processes and welcomes contributions made by other organizations to enhancing the effectiveness of this resolution. Australia also has supported and not supported specific annexes presented on the 76th and 77th meetings of the General Assembly (3). Australia has supported annexes VII and VIII, and has been against annexes XI, XII and XV. Such annexes contain Australia’s beliefs pertaining to what should be done during and after elections.
Australia believes that what is being done by the UN and other organizations currently is not enough. The UN should look to press certain political leaders to step down in a speedy fashion, but not so fast as to make the transition rocky, and should expand assistance to the democratic forces in conflicted nations to promote peaceful and speedy transitions. In a nation like Kenya, Australia believes that by reforming the constitution and police system and by adopting new laws like witness protection, many issues that have caused the post-election violence could subside. Other actions would also involve reorganizing and constructing countries’ governments.
1. President Mwai Kibaki re-elected with 51.3% of the vote. His opposition, Raila Odinga received 48.7%.
2. Resolution 62/150.
3. GA/10678
