DSRSG Walpole discusses preparations for upcoming Governorate Councils elections with CoR Deputy Speaker Al-Haddad

DSRSG Walpole welcomed recent steps by the Council of Representatives to establish a parliamentary oversight committee, as recommended by UNAMI, to oversee the work of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) in preparing the elections. “An oversight mechanism will help enhance public access to electoral information and promote accountability among electoral officials, building public confidence and increasing participation in the process”, the DSRSG noted. She underlined the readiness of the UN to provide expertise advisory support to the parliamentary oversight committee.

DSRSG Walpole and Deputy Speaker al-Haddad also discussed proposals for addressing the challenges of enabling voting by the displaced (IDPs), including the possibility of opening polling facilities in camps managed by IHEC polling staff from the IDPs’ governorates of origin. They exchanged views on the upcoming audit of electoral technology systems; and the need for particular support to the electoral process in Kirkuk governorate, participating in provincial council elections for the first time since 2005. They agreed that there would be value in international observation of the electoral process.