Election-related violence has significantly hindered the
meaningful engagement of young people in electoral processes. Elections are one
of the main pillars of democracy. However, elections
can trigger violence when fundamental human rights such as the rights of
association and expression are violated and when certain segments of society
are unable to engage with from political processes. Countries emerging from
internal conflicts such as civil war have an especially high potential for
conflict during electoral processes.[i]
The use of media including social media to intimidate and harass is an
increasing form of election-related violence. See Social Media.
In
countries with a history of electoral violence, young people are often involved
as perpetrators or victims
of the violence. That is because they are often used as foot soldiers
by politicians and armed groups that want to disrupt
polling. As long as youth are vulnerable for political and military
exploitation they will be hindered from fully participating in electoral processes.
Women are affected in different ways
than men by electoral violence. Voter turnout
among women is much lower than among men, particularly in post- conflict
countries where there is a high threat of gender-based violence and in countries
with high risks of intimidation of women in public life.
Preventing the eruption of
election-related violence to preserve the integrity of elections and democratic systems is thus fundamental
to a country’s long-term peace and stability. This objective is also
acknowledged in Agenda 2030’s Sustainable Development Goal 16.1, which focuses
on reducing all forms of violence to achieve “peace, justice and strong
institutions.” Reducing the risk of election-related violence
is a complex proceeding that requires “[building] general trust among
key players, including media, security services,
political parties, civil society, and others in crisis prevention programmes.”[ii] Therefore, EMBs, in conjunction with other electoral stakeholders, should take action
to reduce the risks of electoral violence and enhance peoples’ sense of
security and freedom in exercising their right to vote.
In taking this action, EMBs and other
electoral stakeholders should follow an approach that acknowledges the
importance of youth empowerment, participation and inclusion. Such an approach
is more likely to address young people’s underlying experiences of
marginalization than one which perpetuates negative stereotypes of the youth
population as a whole.
See IPU (2015)
Youth Participation in Parliaments and Peace and Security (ACE Electoral
Materials)[iii]
See IDS (2018) Youth Engagement in the Realm of Local Governance:
Opportunities for Peace?[iv] (ACE Electoral Materials)[v]
See Youth initiatives: Supporting citizen engagement with government and
civic life[vi]
(ACE Electoral Materials)
[ii] UNDP, Elections and Conflict
Prevention.
[iii] IPU, 2015, Youth Participation in Parliaments
and Peace and Security A contribution from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
to the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security mandated by Security Council
Resolution 2250 (2015)
[iv] Marjoke Oosterom, IDS
Working Paper 508, Institute of Development Studies and Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation 2018
[v] IPU, 2015, Youth
Participation in Parliaments and Peace and Security A contribution from the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to the Progress Study on Youth, Peace and
Security mandated by Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015)
[vi] Orrnert, A. (2018) Youth initiatives:
supporting citizen engagement with government and civic life. GSDRC Helpdesk
Research Report 1418. Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham.
