Ref: 05/2013

The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), in its capacity as a local
observation body accredited by the Central Elections Commission (CEC), began
monitoring the voter registry update in the Gaza Strip on Monday, 11 February
2013. PCHR’s observation team, consisting of 28 members, and PCHR’s
fieldworkers are liaising with the registry offices identified by the CEC.

The
CEC has resumed its activities in the Gaza Strip, after Hamas and Fatah
movements reached an agreement in Cairo to open the registration in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank simultaneously, from 11 to 18 February 2013.

In
this context, PCHR emphasizes that voter registry is a purely technical
procedure to ensure the people’s right to participate in the electoral process
(voting and being nominated for candidature). 
Nevertheless, this procedure has significant indications especially
under the state of political split in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 
PCHR hopes that serious steps will be taken to ensure the implementation
of the national reconciliation and restoration of respect of the PNA
institutions, including the holding of general elections (presidential and
legislative) as soon as possible, under fair conditions that reflect the will
of the Palestinian electorate.

It should be noted that PCHR has previous
experience in this field, as it has acted as an observation body in all
elections organized under the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since its
establishment.  PCHR monitored the presidential and legislative elections
of 1996, the presidential elections of 2005, and the legislative elections of
2006. PCHR’s observation team is well trained and qualified to monitor the
election election process.

PCHR stresses that monitoring the whole
electoral process is part of its support for democratic development in the PNA.