24 DE JULHO DE 1997

1256-(35)

Pela África do Sul: Aziz Pahad.

PorEspanha:

Camilio Barcia.

Pela Suécia:

Lena Hjelm-Wallén.

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY ANO ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE

The Parties signatory hereto:

Noting that the concepts of democracy, pluralism and free and fair elections are taking root worldwide;

Noting that democracy is essential for promoting and guaranteeing human rights and that participation in political life, including government, is part of human rights, proclaimed and guaranteed by international treaties and declarations;

Noting also that the ideas of sustainable democracy, good governance, accountability and transparency have become central to policies for national and international development;

Recognizing that strengthening democratic institutions, nationally, regionally and globally is conducive to preventive diplomacy, thereby promoting the establishment of a better world order;

Understanding that democratic and electoral processes require continuity and a long-term perspective;

Wishing to advance and implement universally held norms, values and practices;

Aware that pluralism presupposes actors and national and international organizations with distinctly different tasks and mandates that cannot be subsumed by others;

Realizing that a meeting place for all those involved would sustain and advance professionalism and systematic capacity building;

Considering that a complementary international institute in this field is required:

have agreed as follows:

Article I Establishement, location and status

1 — The Parties to this Agreement hereby establish the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, as an international organisation, hereinafter referred to as the Institute or International IDEA.

2 — The headquarters of the Institute shall be in Stockholm, unless the Council decides to relocate the Institute elsewhere. The Institute may establish offices in other locations as required to support its programs.

3 — International IDEA shall possess full juridical personality and enjoy such capacities as may be necessary to exercise its functions and fulfil its objectives, inter alia, the capacity to:

a) Acquire and dispose of real and personal property,

b) Enter into contracts and other types of agreements;

c) Employ persons and accept seconded personnel on loan;

d) Institute and defend in legal proceedings;

e) Invest the money and properties of the Institute; and

f) Take other lawful action necessary to accomplish the objectives of the Institute.

Article II Objectives and activities

1 — The objectives of the Institute are:

a) To promote and advance sustainable democracy worldwide;

b) To improve and consolidate democratic electoral processes worldwide;

c) To broaden the understanding and promote the implementation and dissemination of the norms, rules and guidelines that apply to multi-party pluralism and democratic processes;

d) To strengthen and support national capacity to develop the full range of democratic instruments;

e) To provide a meeting-place for exchanges between all those involved in electoral processes in the context of democratic institution-building;

J) To increase knowledge and enhance learning about democratic electoral processes;

g) To promote transparency and accountability, professionalism and efficiency in the electoral process in the context of democratic development.

2 — In order to accomplish the foregoing objectives, the Institute may engage in the following type of activities:

a) Develop networks globally in the sphere of electoral processes;

b) Establish and maintain information services;

c) Provide advice, guidance and support on the role of government and opposition, political parties, electoral commissions, an independent judiciary, the media and other aspects of the electoral process in a pluralistic democratic context;

d) Encourage research and the dissemination and application of research findings within the institute's sphere of competence;

e) Organize and facilitate seminars, workshops and training on free and fair elections in the context of pluralistic democratic systems;

f) Engage in other activities related to elections and democracy as the need arises.

3 — The members and associate members subscribe to the objectives and activities of the Institute as stated in this article and undertake to further them and assist the Institute to carry out its program of work.

Article III Cooperative relationships

The Institute may establish cooperative relationships with other institutions.