Diritto Pubblico Comparato ed Europeo

Sommario

1. Premessa. – 2. L’assistenza elettorale nel contesto del processo di decolonizzazione. – 3.L’assistenza elettorale nel contesto del mutato scenario internazionale. – 4. I diversi tipi di attività: le cosiddettestandard electoral activities. – 5. Le missioni di verifica elettorale. – 6. Le missioni di supervisione elettorale. –7. Le missioni di organizzazione e condotta delle elezioni. – 8. Considerazioni conclusive.

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) have been involved in electoral assistance activities since 1956. Between the early years and 1990 the UN provided electoral assistance mainly to countries in transition to independence, in the context of the decolonization process. In recent years the UN has put much effort into enhancing the principle of periodic and genuine elections and they have developed a wide range of activities in the field of electoral assistance. The Secretary-General has identified seven basic types of electoral assistance: 1) technical assistance, 2) observation, 3) support for national observers, 4) coordination and support for international observers, 5) verification, 6) supervision, 7) organisation and conduct of elections. The legal basis for electoral assistance activities can be found in the Charter of the United Nations and in other international instruments such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. It must be also stressed that, given the need to respect national sovereignty, the UN can provide electoral assistance only upon a formal request of the Government of the country where the elections take place and their action is therefore bound by the continuing presence of its consent.