Obligation
Right to Security of the Person
International and regional treaties protect the right to security of the person, which includes protection from arbitrary arrest, detention, and exile.[1] Interpretive sources specifically highlight the need for voters to be protected from interference, coercion, or intimidation.[2] State practice sources suggest that this obligation also requires law enforcement to behave in a neutral manner during the electoral process.[3]
Issues
- Safety, Security, and Voting Operations
- Safety, Security, and Voter Registration
- Female Candidates
- Security of the Person of Candidates, Parties, and Their Supporters
- Safety, Security, and Vote Counting and Tabulation
- Safety, Security, and Electoral Dispute Resolution
- Misuse of State Resources
- Safety, Security, and the Media
- Safety, Security, and the Electoral Management Body
Safety, Security, and Voting Operations
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Voting Operations
The right to security of the person for all citizens (including EMB personnel) was protected throughout the election period
- States should create, in law and practice, an enabling environment for civil society organizations to operate free from hindrance and insecurity. [?]
Security personnel played a positive role during the electoral process, providing protection for voters, candidates, and electoral management body personnel without interfering in the process
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
- Voters have a right to security provided by police and security forces in polling stations, but without interference from them. [?]
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order. [?]
Election officials were able to maintain order at the polling station
- The highest election official at the polling site should have authority to maintain order. [?]
Potential voters were able to vote without intimidation or coercion
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Interference with registration, intimidation or coercion of potential voters is prohibited. [?]
- Voters are free to vote for any candidate for election, for or against any referendum or proposal, for or against the government, without undue influence or coercion of any kind which may distort or inhibit free expression. [?]
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation. [?]
Safeguards were in place to prevent coercion of voters
- Safeguards should be in place to prevent removal of evidence of how a voter has voted from the polling station. [?]
Safety, Security, and Voter Registration
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Voter Registration
The state prohibited interference with registration, intimidation, or coercion of potential voters
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
- Interference with registration, intimidation or coercion of potential voters is prohibited. [?]
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation. [?]
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order. [?]
Female Candidates
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Candidacy and Campaigning
Intimidation, coercion or violence against politically active women was prohibited in law and in practice
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation. [?]
Security of the Person of Candidates, Parties, and Their Supporters
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Legal Framework
- Candidacy and Campaigning
The right to security of the person was enjoyed by all electoral stakeholders, including candidates, party members, and their supporters
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
- The right to security of the person applies to candidates. [?]
- Candidates and parties should not engage in violence. [?]
The right to security of the person for all citizens (including EMB personnel) was protected throughout the election period
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation. [?]
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order. [?]
Electoral stakeholders were free from arbitrary arrest and detention as well as intimidation and coercion
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order. [?]
Safety, Security, and Vote Counting and Tabulation
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Vote Counting and Tabulation
Security personnel played a positive role during the electoral process, providing protection for voters, candidates, and electoral management body personnel without interfering in the process
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
- Counting should take place in an atmosphere free from intimidation. [?]
- Any security-related restrictions of freedoms and the use of force by public security providers must be based in law, necessary, and proportionate to the objective of maintaining public order. [?]
Vote counting took place in an environment free of intimidation
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
- Counting should take place in an atmosphere free from intimidation. [?]
- States should ensure that violence, including online, does not undermine women's rights, including political participation and representation. [?]
Safety, Security, and Electoral Dispute Resolution
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Electoral Dispute Resolution
Electoral stakeholders were free from arbitrary arrest and detention as well as intimidation and coercion
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Law enforcement should behave in a neutral manner. [?]
Law enforcement bodies were neutral in their work
Misuse of State Resources
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Candidacy and Campaigning
The law was clear regarding the extent to which public employees could be involved in a campaign. Public employees were not coerced into voting for a particular candidate or party
- Public employees should not be coerced to vote for a particular party or candidate. [?]
Safety, Security, and the Media
- Relevant Election Parts:
- The Media
Security of the person was guaranteed for all election stakeholders, including the members of the media
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]
- Members of the media have the right to security of the person. [?]
- Safety and ability of journalists and other media actors to work in full freedom should be protected, with any harassment and violence, offline and online, promptly investigated and liability imposed. [?]
Safety, Security, and the Electoral Management Body
- Relevant Election Parts:
- Election Management
The right to security of the person for all citizens (including EMB personnel) was protected throughout the election period
- Everyone has the right to security of the person without arbitrary arrest or detention. [?]