13 June 1999

Organising and observing elections and supporting humanitarian relief operations have been key areas of work for UN Volunteers since the early 1990s. Thousands of professionals have since been recruited by the Bonn-based UNV programme to help in elections in Cambodia, Mozambique, South Africa, Haiti, Liberia, the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Bosnia. UNV continues to recruit electoral monitors and volunteers to provide assistance in countries and areas as diverse as South Africa, Indonesia, Kosovo and East Timor.

UNVs provide logistical support in SOUTH AFRICA: Working with the UN’s Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and UNDP, 9 UNV Regional Electoral Officers have been on two-month assignments as key logistical planners at the provincial level for the deployment of international observers co-ordinated by the EAS (the South Africa-based branch of EAD) for the national elections in South Africa held on 7 June.

EU funds observers for elections in INDONESIA: More than 90 European Union Electoral Monitors, recruited from 13 EU countries by UNV, assisted Indonesian electoral officials, political parties and local communities during the June elections. Balloting was scheduled for two weeks, as of 7 June 1999. In teams of two persons, Monitors were deployed in thirteen provinces throughout the country. During their stay they were in close contact with local counterparts to observe and report on the campaigning activities and the conduct of the elections.

Large UNV contingent headed for EAST TIMOR: UNV has been asked to provide the core electoral team for the historic choice facing the people of East Timor. They will decide whether or not they wish to remain part of Indonesia -- or opt for independence or autonomy in this first phase of the democratic process in their territory. Some 400 UNV Polling Officers, supported by 10 physicians and 10 laboratory technicians, will serve with the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) for two months during the period leading to the territory’s "popular consultation", with balloting slated for 8 August 1999. Following a five-day training stint at an airforce base in Darwin, Australia the UNVs will all have been deployed in groups to districts throughout the territory by the beginning of July. Under the general supervision of the Chief Electoral Officer they will see to the registration of voters, maintain registration records, as well as engage and supervise local staff.

UNV recruitment drive continues for emergency activities in KOSOVO: When going to press there were 13 people on the ground with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNDP. Further co-operation for the repatriation of refugees with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is also underway, with funding from agency resources, including the White Helmets Initiative (WHI) and the UNV Special Voluntary Fund (SVF). The government of Spain will be providing full funding for 10 volunteers, with support also coming from a Japanese Sub-Trust Fund.