Guidelines to Assist National Minority Participation in the Electoral Process Page: 32 Safeguards to address minority fears and concerns 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Item The appointment of an independent adjudicatory mechanism for complaints and ensuring the appointment of the necessary level of minority representation on the adjudicatory body Availability of special complaints / appeals mechanisms devoted to minority concerns Appointment of a special “demarcations committee” accountable to parliament and on which minorities are represented Minority representation or participation in a “census committee” for population counts as the basis for demarcating constituencies Ensuring that such aspects as finances and budgetary allocations for elections are transparent and made available to the public Specific monitoring bodies in which minorities may be represented, tasked with the responsibility to monitor such aspects as use of government resources, use of state media including TV and radio time, etc. The participation of minorities in the drawing up of campaign finance and political party funding regulations to ensure equity The use of political party liaison committees within the electoral administration to ensure that there is constant communication and liaison with political parties and particularly minority groupings with respect to their concerns and special electoral needs Provision for international and local election observers in electoral legislation to ensure observation and scrutiny of the freeness and fairness of the elections Ensuring that specific regulations / directives have been issued by the Electoral Management Body which support constitutional and / or legislative provisions concerning minority rights.