Topic: Electoral Violence and Intimidation
Country: Somalia
Delegate Name: Jemma Howlett
School: Cranbrook Kingswood
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Somalia position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
Electoral violence and intimidation interfere with the ability to have free and fair elections. The right to rule, and be a leader, should be based on what the people want and who is better qualified, not who is more powerful, more intimidating, or has the most powerful weapons. Violence is used to threaten voters, to vote a certain way, and opponents, to yield. This is illogical, unethical, somewhat barbarian and needs to be stopped. Using violence as a tactic to become elected almost always insures an unstable government, unhappy citizens, and turmoil to come.
Somalia, after enduring years of chaos in the absence of an effective central government, in fact all most no government at all, has begun a new chapter of optimism with the selection of our new president, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, by the Somali parliament in February 2009. This will open new windows to Somalia’s government, and future. While Somalia looks forward to improving stability, it also recognizes the overwhelming importance of elections being free and fair, and the abolishment of electoral violence and intimidation. These issues are very present today all around the world and in need of attention.
Somalia believes the United Nations holds a vital role in ensuring free and fair elections across the globe. Ensuring these elections are fair and free should be an important role that the United Nations takes pride in solving. The recent events in Afghanistan are prominent examples that elections free from hardship should be a priority. We believe the action needed to be taken toward making these changes should not only be the work and responsibility of the country that is affected but also the responsibility of the entire United Nations.
