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Third General Meeting A ssociation of C aribbean E lectoral O rganizations (ACEO) Kingston, Jamaica November 7 & 8, 2008. 1. Founding of the ACEO. Caribbean Election Network Conference -January 1997, Jamaica Birth of the ACEO. First General Meeting -March 1998, Puerto Rico
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Third General Meeting Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO) Kingston, Jamaica November 7 & 8, 2008
1. Founding of the ACEO • Caribbean Election Network Conference-January 1997, Jamaica • Birth of the ACEO • First General Meeting-March 1998, Puerto Rico • Charter signed by 22 countries & dependent territories • San Juan Declaration on the Political Rights for Persons with Disabilities • 2 Executive Board Meetings • Work plan • Newsletter: The ACEO Report-January 2000 • Second General Meeting-2001, Jamaica • Members pledged to pay dues
2. Purpose of the ACEO –Chapter I • “[…] to promote cooperation and mutual assistance among electoral organizations in the Caribbean in the pursuit of democracy by processes that ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.” -Art. 1.1, ACEO Charter, 1998
3. Structure of the ACEO –Chapter II • Three Organs-Article 2.1 • The General Assembly • The Executive Board • The Secretariat • The General Assembly-Article 2.2 • The Executive Board-Article 2.3 • Five persons elected by the General Assembly • One of those five persons is elected Chairperson • Terms of three years
3. Structure of the ACEO –Chapter II • The Secretariat–Article 2.4 • IFES and the OAS initially served as interim Co-Secretariat of the Association • The Executive Secretary-Article 2.5 • Appointed by the Executive Board • Serves as the Secretary of the Board
4. ACEO Membership –Chapter III • Three types of Members–Article 3.1 • Full Members Electoral Organizations of the Caribbean Community • Associate Members 1.Individuals who are current or former Election Officers or Commissioners of an organization qualified for full membership 2. Caribbean non-governmental and non-partisan organizations • Honorary Members
5. Primary Objectives of the Third Meeting • To address substantive issues regarding elections in the Caribbean • Political party and campaign financing • Technology • Stakeholders in electoral processes • But more importantly • To reinvigorate the ACEO as an important point of reference and tool for electoral authorities of the Caribbean
6. Questions & Expected Outcomes • We kindly request your input and active participation to address the following considerations • Is it worthwhile to have an ACEO? • If so, what should be the short- and long-term priorities of the Association? • What types of activities should the ACEO engage in the future to meet those priorities?
7. If we decide to have an ACEO, we need to make the following decisions: • Elect an Executive Board and Chairperson • Decide on where to have the Secretariat • Draft a work plan that meets agreed on priorities • Determine dues: do we pay dues and how do we use the money already collected?
The OAS, IFES and the EOJ wish you a fruitful meeting!