10.  To ensure the full enjoyment of the right to stand for election and the right to vote, these international instruments have affirmed the need to facilitate the exchange of information and opinions relevant to the electoral process freely for all, through free press and other media capable of commenting and informing the public on the course of this process in a transparent manner. Such right requires States to take all necessary measures to ensure the enjoyment of other relevant human rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly and holding peaceful public meetings and the right to form associations, being the fundamental foundation for the effective exercise of the right to vote and the right to stand for elections. 11.  In addition, the State should establish an independent electoral commission to oversee the electoral process and ensure its integrity and proper conduct in accordance with the provisions of the law. This commission shall, in particular, ensure secrecy of the ballot during the electoral process and protect voters from all forms of incitement or coercion that may lead them to reveal their electoral orientations. The commission shall also ensure the security of the ballot boxes and that the votes shall be counted in the presence of the candidates or their agents. The decisions taken by that commission in respect of the electoral process shall be subject to judicial oversight, to ensure the confidence of voters and the public in the outcome of that process. 12. In terms of exercising the right to stand for election and to vote, and to complement the reformist approach led by His Majesty the King through the endorsement of the National Action Charter in 2001 and the restoration of parliamentary life, parliamentary and municipal elections were held for the first time in 2002. Subsequent elections were held every four years, in 2006, 2010, run-off elections in 2011, 2012 and 2014, and most recently in 2018. The parliamentary and municipal elections took place on 24 November 2018, followed by re-elections on 1 December 2018, and resulted in the formation of the House of Representatives and the three municipal councils distributed over the governorates of the Kingdom. 13. In accordance with the powers granted to the NIHR pursuant to Paragraph (e) of Article (12) of Law No. (26) of 2014 on the Establishment of the National Institution for Human Rights, as amended by Decree-Law No. (20) of 2016, the NIHR is competent to, “Monitor violation of human rights, conduct the necessary investigation, draw the attention of the competent authorities and provide them with proposals on initiatives to put an end to such violations, and where appropriate, express its opinion on their positions and reactions.” 14. Paragraph (g) of the same Article of the Law establishing the NIHR as amended, followed by granting it the right to, “Perform announced and unannounced field visits to monitor human rights situation in correctional institutions, detention centers, labor calls gathering, health and education centers, or any other public place in which it is suspected that human rights violations are taking place.” 15. In fulfillment of its role in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms on the ground, and in response to the need to ensure the enjoyment of those rights and freedoms 61