Arab Parliaments: Publications

Access to Aerial Waves: Principles on the Freedom of Speech and Broadcasting Laws [ Arabic ]. 2002 [brief description]

Within the scope of the international campaign for freedom of speech, this publication presents a series of principles and criteria on the means to strengthen and protect independent broadcasting, and put such broadcasting at the service of public interest. These principles also deal with the means to organize work so as to serve the public interest and thus, prevent such work from becoming a controlling tool between the hands of government. Moreover, this publication tackles the need expressed by organizers to prevent commercial interests from predominating in the broadcasting system and guarantee the realization of the public interest. It also sets out criteria related to the media coverage of elections.

This National Democratic Institute (NDI) handbook discusses the simple techniques that parliamentarians can use to better understand proposed legislations. In particular, these methods focus on determining the major issues of policy contained in a bill; identifying the problems or issues that a bill addresses; and analyzing the solutions it proposes.

This handbook, published by UNDP in cooperation with the Arab Scout Parliamentary Union, and the Parliamentary Studies Programme at Cairo University, highlights the basic principles guiding youth policies, and provides Arab legislators with a draft youth law as well as an explanatory note on the draft law.

This guide is coauthored by Robert B. Seidman, Ann Seidman, and Nalin Abeyesekere. UNDP funded its translation to Arabic. It aims at providing the legislators with the necessary tools that would help them in assessing legislations and proposing them to promote social and democratic change in their countries. The guide highlights and discusses several important topics such as the role of the legislator in facilitating socio-political and economic change, the legislative theory, and the methodology for problem solving, in addition to assessing the technical sufficiency for the proposed law.

Consolidated Response: Eliminating Violence Against Women In Politics [ English ]. 2007 [brief description]

Consolidated response published by the International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOWpolitics) addressing violence against women in politics. The main questions raised were on the frequency and sources of such violence, how to reduce such violence and whether any measures have been put in place towards that end such as legislations, policies, or programmes. The ways in which violence against women in politics manifests itself in different cultural contexts is also tackled.

Constitutional Provisions and Enhancing Participation of Women in Elections [ English ]. 2004 [brief description]

Paper published by the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGI) discussing the participation of women in post-conflict countries. It examines the obstacles they face in their efforts to participate in elections. The paper also describes the legislative measures taken to enhance the participation of women in several countries, however, it also delineates that the difficulties are hardly experienced at the constitutional level as women generally have the right to vote, but rather at the implementation level.

This manual, provides tools to human rights activists and defenders who investigate violence perpetrated against women by non-state actors. Its goal is to offer guidance with regard to the legal definitions and human rights protection mechanisms that may help them compel States to fulfill their obligation to protect. It presents concrete examples of particular forms of violence committed against women by non-state actors and models of strategies that have been used effectively, particularly in Muslim communities.

Draft International Law for Youth: Arab Countries and Legislations Related to Youth Rights and Duties. Second Study [ Arabic ]. 2007 [brief description]

This study was prepared by the Arab Scout Parliamentary Union, and the Parliamentary Program at Cairo University, with the support of UNDP. The study aims at observing the best practices in Arab legislation (focus of this study), as well as modern international legislation (the focus of the first study “Draft International Law for Youth: Survey of International Youth Related Legislation”) as it is a legislative and institutional mechanism for Arab youth empowerment.

Draft International Law for Youth: Survey of International Youth Related Legislation. First Study [ Arabic ]. 2007 [brief description]

This study was prepared by the Arab Scout Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Program at Cairo University, with the support of UNDP. The study aims at observing the best practices in modern international legislation (the focus of this study) as well as Arab legislation (focus of the second study “Draft International Law for Youth: Arab Countries and Legislations Related to Youth Rights and Duties”), as it is a legislative and institutional mechanism for Arab youth empowerment.

Egyptian Political Parties, Constraints and Limitations: Report of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights [ Arabic ]. 2007 [brief description]

An article published by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights discussing the difficulties inherent in the Egyptian partisan sphere, mainly concerning the formation of new political parties and the restricting legislative environment. The article also draws attention to impediments regarding issuing favorable laws as a result of the ruling party's large influence on the ratification of laws.

Article published by UNDP discussing the significance of gender in formulating macroeconomic policies. It explains the effects of gender-biased policies in producing gender inequalities at the micro level which in turn results in macroeconomic implications. It also highlights UNDP's efforts in the area of gender and macroeconomics.

This paper reflects the diverse voices of women who interpret the Qur'an and engage with it in the context of their lived realities. It describes the many challenges to monolithic, often male-dominated interpretations of the Qur'an and Muslim laws.

Gender Mainstreaming in Parliaments: International Best Practices [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

Paper Published by ONA-UNDP that serves as a guide for parliamentarians to facilitate gender mainstreaming into the main functions of parliament such as representation, oversight, and legislation. It also highlights emerging gender issues within these areas and ways to integrate them through a gender perspective.

This pamphlet includes a set of guiding principles for political party legislation in the Arab region which were debated and adopted by the Working Group on Parliament and Reform of Political Parties Legislation, launched by the UNDP’s Parliamentary Development Initiative in the Arab Region (PDIAR). Members of the Working Group were comprised of more than 40 parliament members from: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Yemen, in addition to researchers and experts on the topic. These guiding principles could serve as a basis for reviewing current legislation or drafting new political party laws in the Arab Region. They could also contribute to the institutional development of political parties within a functioning democratic governance system, and reinforce political participation as well as political pluralism.

This publication, prepared by the Mauritanian Senate in collaboration with UNDP, provides a practical handbook for the Mauritanian senators. It sheds light on the Mauritanian institutional structure, and discusses the Senate’s organization, and the different stages of the legislative process. It also discusses the oversight role of the Senators.

Handbook for Parliamentarians on Public Finance: Budgetary procedures, glossary and guidebook [ Arabic ][ French ]. 2009 [brief description]

This handbook published by the Mauritanian parliament in cooperation with UNDP, explains the process of preparing the national budget. It defines the national budget and sheds light on the legislative framework governing it. It clarifies the steps of preparing the budget, voting on it, and conducting oversight over its implementation. The publication also includes general guidelines as well as a glossary of related terminologies.

International Electoral Standards: Guidelines for Reviewing the Legal Framework of Elections [ English ]. 2002 [brief description]

This book, published by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) sets out internationally recognized standards applicable across a range of areas of electoral legislation. This will be useful to those engaged in reviewing existing legal frameworks for elections, or formulating new electoral legislation. These standards are intended as benchmarks to assess whether elections are free and fair.

Issues in Women's Political Empowerment in the Asia-Pacific Region [ English ]. 1999 [brief description]

Paper published by the Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics. The paper is divided into three sections: obstacles to women empowerment including institutional barriers, opportunities to women's empowerment including greater interest in advancing democratic governance, and future directions including creating an enabling environment for women's political empowerment.

A UNDP-MAGNET technical series publication. The report examines the lawmaking function of the legislature and the related processes of introducing, considering and enacting laws.

Legal Framing of Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the Security Sector [ English ]. 2001 [brief description]

This DCAF publication sheds light on a range of issues related to the relationship between law and democratic control of armed forces. The discussions focused on several national case studies, some of the topics discussed were the legal issues of democratic control of armed forces, as well as the societal and cultural prerequisites needed for the promotion and implementation of the democratic control of armed forces. It also examines the relevance of the Western legal expertise for the rule of law in countries in transition, and the civilian and parliamentary control over the military.

Legislative Drafting for Democratic Social Change: A Manual for Drafters [ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This guide is coauthored by Robert B. Seidman, Ann Seidman, and Nalin Abeyesekere. UNDP funded its translation to Arabic. It aims to provide guidance to the legislators during the technical procedure of legislation. It highlights several important topics such as the relation between the legislative drafting, good governance, and the process of development. It discusses the technique for preparing a research report, and methods for drafting a draft law. The guide also sheds light on the role of legislative drafting in promoting good governance.

Manual on Legislative Drafting for the Iraqi Council of Representatives [ Arabic ]. 2008 [brief description]

This manual was prepared by Mr. Mahmoud Sabra, one of the Arab region’s leading experts in legislative drafting, and was published by UNDP-POGAR as part of the project entitled “Strengthening the Capacities of the Iraqi Council of Representatives”. This manual is designed specifically for the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and contains guidelines on how to read, analyze, and draft a bill. The purpose of the Manual is to help members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives and legal councilors perform their duties as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Toolkit published by UN-instarw and the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). It may be useful to parliamentarians involved in security policy making processes. It highlights the benefits and opportunities of integrating gender issues into national level security policy making as that would increase the participation and the representation of all sectors of society that may be affected by the issue.

This guide, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Bank Institute and the United Nations Fund for Women, discusses some of the basic concepts and issues in budgeting, the budget process and the budget as a tool for accountability. It also provides a gender perspective on the budget and suggests ways to strengthen legislative participation in this domain.

Strengthening Democracy Through Women's Political Participation [ English ]. 2000 [brief description]

Seminar organized and published by The Asia Foundation which took place after the economic crisis in numerous Asian countries in the late 1990s. The objective of the seminar was to formulate strategies for democratic development, economic progress, and stable international relations in the Asia Pacific. The cornerstones it focuses on to achieve such results include human rights and legal reform, the participation of women in politics and other sectors, governance reforms, and security issues.

The General Budget in the Arab Countries: Comparative Study on the Preparation, Approval, Implementation and Monitoring of the Budget in the Arab Countries [ English ][ Arabic ]. 2005 [brief description]

This book, published by UNDP, defines the general budget, and sheds light on various aspects such as the budget’s history and development, principles of a good general budget, measures to promote the parliament’s role and the obstacles that limit the effectiveness of parliaments in this domain. The book also discusses methods of preparing the budget in the Arab countries, as well as approving, implementing, and performing auditing and oversight over its implementation. The book concludes by highlighting the final accounts process in different Arab countries.

The Main Actors in the Law – Making Process for Economic Reform: An Assessment of their Strengths & Weaknesses to Participate in the Law – Making Process in Egypt [ English ]. 2005 [brief description]

After launching the Economic Reform and Stabilization Adjustment Program (ERSAP) in 1991 the Egyptian government embarked on a new initiative to reform and upgrade the legislative framework. This paper highlights the role of the Executive, the Legislative and civil society, showing the weaknesses and the strengths of the process.

The paper seeks to ask about the elaboration process of the Work Code. It retraces the political as well as the juridical (legislative and regulatory) itinerary followed by the Code’s text.

The Public's Right to Know: Principles related to the Laws on the Freedom of Knowledge [ Arabic ]. 2006 [brief description]

This manual tackles various legal, constitutional and political aspects of the freedom of information and of the right to know and presents some of the sectors which directly benefit from the adoption of a law in this respect, such as the environment and the media. "No Corruption" includes in the manual a document containing the general principles of the right to know, as well as a model law on the access to information translated by the Association from "Article 19- The International Center Against Censorship".

This DCAF publication contains a compilation security sector legislation adopted by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) – laws, executive decisions, and bylaws of institutions relevant to the security sector.

Publication published by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It focuses on legislation to protect women's legal rights and enhancing the justice sector's capacity to enforce women's legal rights. The publication focuses on several countries mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Towards Developing Legislative Drafting for Arab Parliaments [ Arabic ]. 2003 [brief description]

This book, published by UNDP – POGAR, includes the proceedings as well as the final report, of the Workshop on Developing Legislative Drafting for Arab Parliaments, held in Beirut in 2003. Some of the topics discussed are: legislative drafting for good governance; Legislative drafting in Arab countries; methodologies, means and sources for producing legislative texts. It also focuses on the status of legislative drafting in Egypt, and suggests ways to improve legislation and make them clearer. The book concludes with the discussion of the pillars for an efficient and democratic legislative process.

Towards Strengthening the Role of Arab Parliaments in the Reform of Political Party Legislation [ English ][ Arabic ]. 2009 [brief description]

This Publication includes the knowledge products of the Working Group on Parliaments and the Reform of Political Party Legislation. In addition to workshop reports, the publication includes the four regional studies that have been commissioned by UNDP on key issues affecting political party life such as party finance and internal organization. The book also includes the General Principles for Political Party Legislation in the Arab Region, around which, the members of the working group have reached a consensus.

This study, published by the International National Democratic Institute, sheds light on the freedom of information laws. It discusses the advantages of the freedom of information and the parties benefiting from them and focuses on the means to develop and implement freedom of information laws. The study also publishes a list of the national laws on the freedom of information in force in the Arab countries.

Women are Citizens Too: The Laws of the States, the Lives of Women [ English ]. [brief description]

Paper published by the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States discussing gender equality within the broader context of citizenship. It provides an analysis and understanding of the tremendous challenges and resistance faced concerning gender equality in the Arab region. The main areas of focus are related to the family, social security, and nationality laws.

Women’s Rights Under Attack: Occupation, Constitution and Fundamentalisms [ English ]. 2006 [brief description]

Women's Rights in the New Constitution of Iraq: Perspectives from the Afghan Constitutional Experience [ Arabic ]. 2003 [brief description]

This study published by NDI, discusses women's rights in the new Iraqi constitution. The study takes women's rights in the new Afghani constitution as a case study, and sheds light on women's right in different constitutions as well. It concludes with recommendations on how to embed women's right in the new constitution.