Proposed Universal Code of Conduct for Political Parties

By: Tarig Mohamed Kheir Anter; Khartoum/ Sudan; Tel.: 00249911636990

Democracy requires real democratic and functional political parties. Juntas and pressure groups are not political parties; and they must not be allowed to participate neither in governments nor in opposition.

Any group, or state, which excludes people from leadership or holding any office because of their gender; ethnicity; religion; culture; or other characteristic, must not be recognized locally, as well as internationally, as a legitimate political party, or state. This is the very reason why all religious, sectarian, or ethnic groups are unfit to rule, or to act democratically. Such organizations are threats and obstacles for peace; justice; and stability.

Also, any political party must adopt, enforce and follow wide range of specific standards of good governance within themselves in order to maintain their legitimacy and fitness to participate in general elections. The World must establish a Universal Requirements for Political Parties to enhance democracy. No group can freely call itself a political party without passing specific internationally recognized benchmarks.

Mandatory Terms for political parties

Brothers and sisters, young and graying, of the revolution;
The conditions proposed here are formulated for my country the Sudan; and they are what I struggle for and I hope to see in reality. It may be useful in general terms as well for many people in Egypt; Tunisia; Africa; and the Middle East.
The termslisted below need to be included  in all basic documents for any group wishing to establish or register a political party to protect the interests of the people:

1 - The possibility of assuming the presidency of the party by individuals belong to any religion; or who do not follow any religion.

2 – To have reasonable representation of all different religious beliefs in Sudan within the council of party leadership as much as possible.

3 - The possibility of assuming the presidency of the party by individuals from any tribe, ethnic group, local nation as long as he/she is from Sudanese parents by birth.

4 - To have reasonable representation of all various Sudanese tribes, ethnic groups, local nations within the council of party leadershipas much as possible.

5 - Women can be elected to the presidency of the party, or any other leadership position.

6 - To have representation of not less than 25% for women within the council of party leadership; not as a quota.

7 - The maximum period for any person to hold the presidency of party is two terms; but not exceeding a total of ten years.

8 - The maximum period for any person to hold membership of the council of party leadership is two terms; but not exceeding a total of ten years.

9 - Elections for the party President and the council of party leadership must be regular with each term not exceeding five years.

10 – The Highest General Assembly meeting of the party must be held each period and not exceeding two years apart.

11 - Provide a comprehensive and legally audited budget to the General Assembly of each period not exceeding two years.

12 - Publication of the Party Constitution as adopted by the General Assembly on three national newspapers every two years.

13 - Publication of all rules; regulations; and internal procedures adopted by the General Assembly of the party on three national newspapers every two years.

14 - Publish any further amendments to the Constitution; the rules; regulations; and internal procedures of the party in three national newspapers within two weeks from the date sanctioned by the General Assembly.

15 - Not to accept any funding in-kind or financial contributions exceeding certain amount directly or indirectly from any State, organization or foreign entity without public justification.

16 - Declaration of receipt of any funding in-kind or financial contributions from any internal or external exceeding certain amount on three national newspapers during a week of the date of receipt.

17 - Declaration of providing any funding in-kind or financial contributions, to any internal or external source exceeding certain amount on three national newspapers during a week from the date of delivery.

18 - Publication of the names of members of the council of the party leadership and regulatory bodies on three national newspapers every two years.

19 - Announcement of any changes in the membership of the party leadership and regulatory bodies in three national newspapers within a week from the date of adoption of the amendment.

20 - Announcement of any decisions taken by the General Assembly of the party on three national newspapers within two weeks from the date of adoption.

21 – Ban organized ownership and use of all types of weapons; and ban the formation of armed groups from party members or with their assistance.

22 - Prohibition of the use of violence or incitement to violence or the threat of it inside or outside Sudan.

23 - Prohibition of advocacy or incitement to religious, racial, tribal, sectarian, ethnic, or intellectual hatred.

24 - Bear the party President and the council of leadership legally responsible for any systematic or collectively criminal or civil violations carried out by a group of party membership.

25 - Need to have a party's national newspaper; publishing house and a web site to reflect the news; opinions; and the policies of the party.

26 - The possibility of having a party's radio station and a television station to reflect the news; opinions; and policies of the party.

27 - Prohibition of possession of any share, directly or indirectly, in other private media businesses.

28 – Announcement of all private properties and businesses owned by the party president and members of the party leadership council each period not exceeding two years to the General Assembly of the party.

29 - Announcement of all public properties and businesses registered under the name of the party on three national newspapers every two years and as soon as acquiring new ownership.

30 - The right of any person in the membership of the party to make a complaint to the Registrar of political parties on the measures taken against him.

31 – Termination of membership of any person in the party must not take effect prior to its adoption of the party apparatus and the General Assembly.

32 - Must not call or work to take any religion/s or any sect/s as the sole source of legislation in the Sudan and multi-religious doctrines.

33 - Must not call or work to take a single language as the official language of the party or of the Sudanese state in a country of multi-local languages.

34 - Must not call or work to take a single culture; traditions; and costume as the official culture; traditions; and costume in the Sudan.

35 - Print and publish the approved the party's constitution; rules; regulations; and internal procedures initially in five local languages ​​at least.

36 – Work earnestly to print and publish the approved the party's constitution; rules; regulations; and internal procedures in all local languages ​​of Sudan.

37 - File an official copy of all party public announcements published in any newspapers with the Registrar of Political Parties.

38 - The party must establish representative offices and general local assemblies in all states of Sudan.

39 - The president and members of the party leadership council must not hold any position in companies and enterprises in the private sector.

40 - The General Assembly must allocate all necessary remunerations in-kind and in financial payments for full-time employment of the president and members of the party leadership council. (End).