Elections towards reconciliation

The Palestinian Elections as a Method for Reconciliation

The aim of this project is to raise awareness among the youth regarding the importance of carrying out the elections, which are over five years late, to perpetuate the democratic process as an approach in the Palestinian political system. Young people were not of age when the elections took place and thus did not have an opportunity to choose a leader that represents their future. The importance of young people in this process is to exert pressure on both political parties and demand for an election.

Sub-objectives:

1. Promote and motivate male and female youth to participate and vote during the process of elections.
2. Educate young men and women on how to influence decision-makers and candidates, prioritize their needs, and democratically choose their representatives at both local and national levels.
3. To educate the young and male youth about their constitutional and legal rights, especially the right to elect their representatives democratically.
4. Motivating the youth to participate in managing their lives and engaging in public affairs.
5. Contribute with the Central Elections Commission in its effort to raise awareness about the importance of holding and participating in the elections.
6. Raise awareness by practicing democratic acts conducted by citizens and promote community awareness of rights including monitoring and accountability of candidates’ performance and obligations towards the implementation of their electoral programs.

Project definition:

The project focuses on the Palestinian public in general to raise awareness of the need to hold the elections as a method to end the division between Gaza and the West Bank. The project activities are based on the importance of youth participation in the election process and candidacy for the age group that did not reach the legal age of elections. There is a large category that was not included in the 2006 elections due to age, namely the age group that is now at the right age for participation. Most of them joined Palestinian universities to form a basic building block in determining the course of the upcoming elections.

The Center seeks to raise awareness of the youth through communication with the Palestinian universities and institutes in several governorates by holding joint meetings with university students; including open discussions to introduce Palestinian citizen’s right to political participation and the importance of conducting the elections as a first stage in principle as a natural and constitutional right for Palestinians. After coordination with Palestinian universities, it turns out that public lectures that include at least 100 students are the best and most appropriate means to involve the largest number of students. These universities are:

1. Berzeit University
2. Bethlehem University
3. Women’s Society College in Ramallah
4. Al-Quds University
5. Al-Najah University
6. Kadoorei University
7. American University – Jenin