May 7, 2009
Ottawa (Ontario) – The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today announced funding to support continuing electoral reform in Lebanon. The funding will be allocated to the United Nations Development Program to help implement its Strengthening Electoral Processes project.
“This demonstrates Canada’s commitment to strengthening democracy and stability in the country,” said Minister Kenney, who announced the initiative on behalf of the International Cooperation Minister, Beverley J. Oda. “The government in Lebanon has placed reform of the electoral system as a top priority and the Government of Canada is supporting this priority in our aim to ensure elections in all countries are fair and democratic.”
“With Canada’s support, the Lebanese government will increase its institutional capacity, the transparency and the accountability of their elections," Minister Oda said. “These improvements mean that voters in Lebanon will be better informed, generating greater participation resulting in a more democratic process."
The Government of Lebanon has been reforming its electoral processes over the past year. In October 2008, the Lebanese parliament approved a new electoral law, and a parliamentary election will be held on June 7, 2009.
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Information:
Michelle Coates
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Canada to Support Electoral Reform in Lebanon
Electoral reform is a top priority for the Government of Lebanon. The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is managing the process and working with donor countries, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the various activities required to prepare, implement and evaluate an election.
The UNDP’s Strengthening Electoral Processes project supports this work by emphasizing national ownership of the electoral process by promoting democratic values and disseminating information to citizens, especially women and youth, so that they can better understand their responsibilities and exercise their civic rights.
Some of the key activities aim to improve voter identification and registration, increase women’s participation as voters and candidates, establish a media center and communication strategy, select and map polling stations and equip and train staff for those stations, conduct and publish a study on Out-of-Country Voting, as well as a comprehensive post-election evaluation.
Ultimately, the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities will be in a position to efficiently manage future elections.
The Canadian International Development Agency’s $700,000 contribution to this project demonstrates Canada’s continuous commitment to democracy and stability in Lebanon and the region. Canada's support to electoral reform is part of its commitment to provide up to $20 million to Lebanon, made at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon held in Paris, in January 2007.
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