Summary of Chapter IV · The determination and harmonization of the norms and standards of elections at the level of the West African sub­region are favoured by a certain number of factors. · There are first of all the efforts to establish norms and standards at the universal level., such as the universal declaration of human rights which consecrates political pluralism and its corollary as the principle of the designation of leaders through elections governed by universal suffrage, periodicity, honesty, equality, freedom and the secrecy of the vote(universal level); the partnership of the African Union and the African charter of democracy, elections and governance attempting to define norms of fair elections (regional level). · Then there are those at the level of ECOWAS: the “Protocol ASP 1/12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance”, in addition to the“Protocol relating to the Mechanism of Prevention, Management, Resolution of Conflicts, Peace Keeping and Security” which states principles considered as common to all ECOWAS states and considers, among other things, elections as the only valid way of access to power, condemns unconstitutional changes, poses the principles of the popular participation in decision makings, and advocates the confinement of the army, the secularism of the state, the respect of fundamental rights, and the freedom to create political parties; 221