Today (Jan 13) marks the 30th anniversary of Mongolia's first democratic constitution. A communist country for most of the 20th century, Mongolia has today proven itself a buoy of democracy in a region and era where authoritarianism, corruption and disinformation are on the rise. Since its adoption, the constitution has institutionalized Mongolia’s democratic system.

To honor the occasion, the International Republican Institute (IRI) is highlighting Mongolia’s recent democratic milestones and showcasing how its programming helped the country achieve them.

Prior to Mongolia’s June 2020 parliamentary elections – which saw a 76 percent turnout – IRI conducted a nationwide youth poll to gauge public sentiment on democracy in the pre-election period. After the survey concluded, the findings showed overwhelming support for strengthening the country’s democracy. Despite 60 percent of surveyed Mongolians acknowledging little confidence in their current political parties, the overwhelming majority (94 percent) believes inclusivity is an essential component of democratic resilience.

After the June parliamentary and October local elections, Mongolia saw women make up 17 percent of the State Great Hural, 15 percent of the Citizens’ Representative Khurals, 18 percent of the Capital City’s Citizens’ Representative Khurals and fill six leadership positions in the capital. And, it was recently announced that Mongolia will have its first woman seeking to become a presidential candidate this upcoming campaign season.

As the nation prepares for the pivotal election in June, new and expanded opportunities for increased public engagement show that Mongolians intend to consolidate their recent democratic gains. To support the country in these efforts, IRI’s Strengthening Women and Youth Engagement in the Electoral and Political Processes of Mongolia (SWYEEPPM) program remains dedicated to increasing representation in Mongolia. For instance, through the SWYEEPPM program, local partner Parent Teacher Association of Mongolia (PTAM) is training deaf and disabled Mongolians to act as domestic election observers in the country’s first-ever initiative to enable the participation of Mongolians with disabilities in the electoral process.

Another local partner, Youth Policy Watch, is building the capacity of youth and women coalitions to lead advocacy initiatives that promote women’s issues and their engagement with political parties and elected officials. In a similar vein, partner Globe International Center is conducting trainings for youth and women journalists to counter misinformation and promote ethical journalism ahead of the upcoming election. These activities, which are just a few examples of programming IRI is currently implementing in Mongolia, bolster the ideals of representative government and encourage political participation through a variety of vehicles.

In addition to enhancing political inclusivity, Mongolia’s government has also increased its efforts to promote anti-corruption initiatives – especially amidst increased allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government. In December 2019 and 2020, the State Great Hural (SGH) passed two election laws that disqualify any Mongolian convicted of corruption from vying for office in both presidential and parliamentary elections. The 2020 law also created provisions for using indelible ink on voters’ hands, increasing polling center transparency and guaranteeing full paper ballot audits in some polling places to promote election integrity.

Additionally, the State Great Hural also approved a revision for how territorial and administrative units will now be governed by decentralized organizational structures (like working groups and standing committees) rather than by political groups. These laws are just a few examples of how the government has attempted to thwart malign influence, corruption and nepotism ahead of the upcoming elections.

Through its elections, democratic laws and inclusive civil society programming, Mongolia has proven it wants to be accountable to its people and to the constitution it drafted 30 years ago. Despite its democratic nascency, the country’s resilience proves that it won’t fold to geopolitical or autocratic pressures (both foreign and domestic, near and far), and will continue to be an example of a successful democracy in Asia that encourages citizen activism and the civic participation of its people.

by Wallis Stanfield