Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies

Other Activities

Birzeit University and its Role in Reinforcing the Democratic Process

In pursuit to fulfill its principles, Birzeit University took part in managing, activating, enriching and developing the Palestinian Democratic experience during the Palestinian Legislative Council elections held on January 25, 2006. The University’s family, social centers and departments all took part in enriching the democratic process through a number of activities and programs aiming at reinforcing the basis of pluralism, dialogue and honorable competition, based on supplying people with the largest sum of knowledge before heading to the election centers.

During its turn, Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute of International Studies (IALIIS) also played a role in enriching the democratic process through the program called " Reinforcing the Democratic Process in Palestine" in cooperation with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), where training courses for directors of the election campaigns were held in all districts of the country, in addition to other public lectures held for the purpose of increasing the number of voters supporting the role of women and decreasing the effect of tribalism. In this context, IALIIS signed an agreement with Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on August 25, 2005 to start a project under the above-mentioned title. The project was implemented during the six months preceding the elections. Through this project, the Institute also administrated the media campaign through audio-visual communications in order to accomplish the goals listed previously.

Birzeit University was also in the lead through Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute of International Studies where it conducted the first public evaluation on the election’s results and its future reflections, through a conference entitled “The Palestinian Political Reality Post the Second Legislative Elections: The Challenges and Future Visions”, with the participation of representatives of parties and members who succeeded in entering the new Palestinian Parliament.

The Project Activities:

Series of General Lectures (voter education):

Eleven lectures in addition to TV shows for these lectures on local Television programs were held all over the northern, middle and southern parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The main emphasis was on marginalized areas (villages and camps). They tackled issues relating to the importance of exercising the right of individuals to vote, the value of an honorable electoral process, the importance of women and youth participation in these elections, the role of the PLC in political life and other related issues.

Two lecturers from Birzeit University presented previously prepared material. Each lecture extended for three hours, the lecturers' presentation was made first when a discussion with the audience took place handling plenty of fruitful topics related to the raised issues. In parallel, the lectures at the Gaza Strip also presented the prepared material by one lecturer.

TV Coverage:

The Institute had also arranged a TV lecture one day before the elections after the closure of the campaigns, in which four University professors delivered a short presentation concerning the above mentioned topics in addition to an explanation on voting mechanisms. This activity was of crucial importance because it had been presented on local television programs all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, further more that it was broadcasted after the closure of the campaigns.

The participation of Women can be described as a strong one in this activity; additionally, female participants discussed vital issues related to education, health care, social and women concerns which set the core to their interests. They also emphasized that these issues should be a clear part of the candidates agenda and a precondition for electing any candidate.

Short Training Courses

Candidates and campaign directors all over the West Bank and the Gaza Strip received training in campaigning and mobilization. The training material concentrated on the following topics:

Campaigns management
Dealing with Media
Elections law

Four training sessions covered different areas in the West Bank in addition to three training sessions covering all areas in the Gaza Strip. Each training session took place in two working days eight hours each day. The demand was high on these training sessions from different political parties because of the importance of the PLC elections, about 120 applicants registered to attend training.

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The Institute evaluated most of the brochures and booklets that had been published to enhance voters’ education concerning the electoral procedures. It was found that most of the electoral procedures were covered by other local and international NGOs such as Tamkeen, USAID, Civic Forum and others. Because of that the team found that the message of the media should be directed towards empowering the public understanding of the importance of participating in the elections, as well as reaching the maximum number of voters at the same time. Therefore, the project advertisement was distributed on three main media tools; TV, radio and newspapers ads.
Three TV spots as well as three radio spots were produced and broadcasted during December 2005 and January 2006. Three newspapers’ advertisements were prepared and published in Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds newspapers during December 2005 and January 2006. TV spots were broadcasted in 40 broadcasting days seven times each day, and radio spots were presented 200 times during 40 days of broadcasting. Finally the newspapers ads were published during 40 days in the two main Palestinian newspapers Al-Ayyam and Al-Quds.