Positition of the Humanist International concerning the Presidential elections of the Republic of Togo

Von: Humanist International

Zürich, 24 March 2005


After receiving a reply from the Republic of Togo's Minister of Communications and Civil Formation regarding our demand to hold elections supervised by the United Nations and the European Union instead of installing the son of the deceased President as President, we sent our proposals to the Government of Togo and our new request for the organization of truly democratic elections. Within these proposals, we state that:

"The Humanist International remains very attentive to the electoral process underway today, following the expressed wishes of international institutions like the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) and the European Union.

For this democratization to be real and so that the Presidential elections be carried out in an atmosphere of peace, we request that all organizations and authorities of the Government of Togo in charge of the coming elections:

facilitate the participation of independent national and international observers from the African Union, the European Union, all political parties, civil society, including human rights associations, prepare everything so that these observers may do their work in optimal conditions, guaranteeing them access to all 5000 polling stations, to encourage transparency throughout the entire electoral process, to facilitate access to polling stations so that citizens are not troubled for their opinions to organize elections in Togolese Embassies around the world so that citizens of Togo living abroad may also vote.

So that the validation of electoral results be recognized as legitimate by all parties in the country, we request that every organization that is to be involved in the organizing, control and supervision of the electoral process be composed of representatives of all parties, representatives of civil society, magistrates, observers from the African Union, CEDEAO, and the EU.

The Humanist International proposes to participate in the electoral process by sending its international observers and organizing polling stations in Togo.


Yours sincerely,
Daniel Horowitz

Humanist International
European Region Secretary General

Kolbenacker 25
CH-8052 Zürich

Tel +41-1-303 04 09
Fax +41-1-272 43 29
e-mail humint@swissonline.ch


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