This Constitution Brief provides basic information about the nature and functions of constitutions and is intended for use by constitution-makers and other democratic actors and stakeholders in Myanmar.
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“Our role is to be transparent, accountable and responsible in our oversight function, now that Myanmar is transitioning towards democracy”, said by U Aye Tha Aung, Deputy Speaker of the Union Parliament of Myanmar and of the Amyotha Hluttaw and Chair of the Parliament’s Joint Public Accounts Committee (JPAC).
Myanmar has trained 1,500 election officials ahead of its by-elections on 1 April 2017, when more than 2 million citizens will choose 19 parliamentary representatives among 94 candidates. The by-elections will be held in 22 different townships scattered across eight of Myanmar’s 14 states and regions. These areas include places where general elections could not be held in 2015 due to continued armed insurgency.
In situations of violent conflict, negotiated agreements—including ceasefire or peace agreements and documents detailing constitutional arrangements—attempt to reach a new political settlement between the warring protagonists, which is ideally supported by the broader society.
Such political settlements aim to move the country or region from conflict to a situation characterized by constitutional commitments to good governance and the rule of law.
On 20 January in Yangon, Myanmar, Ricardo Lagos, President of Chile between 2000–2006, officially launched Democratic Transitions: Learning from World Leaders, published by International IDEA and Club de Madrid with support from the European Union.
Although Myanmar’s Union Electoral Commisison (UEC) welcomed both domestic and international electoral observation missions to observe the November 2015 elections, and established codes of conduct for each category of observation missions, there is no authorization in the law for electoral observation in Myanmar.
Following the operationalization of the Electoral Risk Management Unit (ERM Unit) of the Union Election Commission (UEC) back in August, International IDEA has continued assisting the development of monthly risk reports. The ERM Unit has produced two of these reports in August and September.
What roles can women from marginalized communities play in conflict, peacemaking and democratization?
Which factors lie behind their involvement in armed conflict? What are the consequences of women’s inclusion and exclusion from peace-building activities? These are some of the questions explored in Women in Conflict and Peace.
Constitution-building processes in post-conflict settings are exceedingly difficult undertakings.
Actors that have previously engaged in violent confrontation become responsible for the (re)framing and (re)building of the post-conflict state. Interim constitutions represent a form of ‘political settlement’ that seeks to dis-incentivise armed conflict as a means of pursuing political goals.
Local democracy is the self-government of cities, towns, villages and districts by democratic means—typically, but not exclusively, through elected mayors, councils and other local officials.
A limitation clause enables constitutional rights to be partially limited, to a specified extent and for certain limited and democratically justifiable purposes, while prohibiting restrictions that are harmful to democracy by reason on their purpose, nature or extent.
Socio-economic rights provide protection for the dignity, freedom and well-being of individuals by guaranteeing state-supported entitlements to education, public health care, housing, a living wage, decent working conditions and other social goods.
This Primer covers the rules governing the tenure, immunity, discipline and removal of judges in constitutional democracies. In particular, it discusses various attempts to balance the need for judicial independence and neutrality to be balanced against judicial responsiveness and accountability.
The content of a constitution provides a blueprint for the operation of a state, guarantees rights and outlines mechanisms for their enforcement, as well as shapes the future of a nation.
Constitutions that emerge after conflict are often a result of negotiated settlements and competition between many forces including identity-based groups, former parties to conflict, political and military actors and international actors.
Support to Electoral Processes and Democracy – STEP Democracy partners welcome you to celebrate the International Day of Democracy with a presentation on global democratic trends and a panel discussion on the state of democracy in South East Asia and Myanmar.
A presentation on the Global State of Democracy and the Panel Discussion, including Q&A will be live streamed. Watch the live stream on Monday, 17 September 2018.
In January 2022, a year after a ruthless military coup the Myanmar People’s Assembly, which brings together elected MPs and a wide range of other legitimate representatives of the people of Myanmar, endorsed the Federal Democracy Charter (FDC).