International IDEA and the Federal Electoral Tribunal strengthen their strategic partnership

Mexico and International IDEA share a long history of collaboration. Their relationship was taken to the next level on April 2018, when the Sub-regional Office for Mexico and Central America started its activities. To carry out its new programmes, a strategic partnership was established with the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF), the highest electoral justice body in Mexico. Both institutions work together to strengthen Mexican democracy, especially through international cooperation and the Global Network of Electoral Justice—which the TEJPF itself leads.

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Mexico and International IDEA share a long history of collaboration. Ever since 1995, when International IDEA was first founded, a number of Mexican institutions and individuals have participated with International IDEA in several researchs, training and advisory projects. These have ranged from the organization of conferences and events, to workshops on election administration to international publications highlighting best practices and lessons learned in the fields of election administration and election justice. This fruitful and intense activity between International IDEA and Mexico achieved a formal status in 2003, when Mexico became a member state.

On 10 October 2017, this relationship was taken to the next level. A Host Country Agreement was signed to establish an International IDEA sub-regional office in Mexico City. This agreement entered into force on 31 January 2018. This office—which constitutes a permanent representation of the organization for Mexico and Central America—started its activities in April 2018.

The activities and programmes to be carried out by the office, include:

• The promotion and consolidation of sustainable democracy, as well as of democratic electoral processes.
• Strengthening and supporting national capacities through training and assistance for national institutions which participate in the democratic process in the country.
• Promote transparency and accountability for all actors involved in the democratic process.
• Explore the possibilities of collaboration in all of International IDEA’s areas of expertise: gender equality, political funding, conflict prevention, parliamentary support, migration and democracy, information and communication technologies, and democracy, among others.

During its first year, the sub-regional office started its activities with a portfolio of projects to strengthen democratic institutions in the country. Key collaborations were thus put in place, among these, a strategic partnership established with the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF, short for its name in Spanish), the highest electoral justice body in Mexico.

International IDEA recognizes Mexico’s TEPJF for its commitment to strengthening democratic processes and its important work in the field of electoral justice. Specifically, International IDEA commends its work on the resolution of electoral disputes in a timely and effective fashion, and more importantly, its protection of the political and electoral rights of citizens, candidates and political parties. The work to guarantee the rights of specific groups such as indigenous communities and women, is particularly relevant. International IDEA looks forward to maintain its collaboration with the TEPJF, especially through international cooperation and the Global Network of Electoral Justice—which the TEJPF itself leads.