THEMATIC PROJECT« SUPPORT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE EAP »

Reporting period: 1 May – 31 October 2013

Contribution of the Venice Commission

and of theDivision of Electoral Assistance and Census

Directorate General of Democracy

EXPECTED RESULT 1:

ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATIONS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO FULFIL THEIR

TASKS

The use of administrative resources during electoral campaigns

Aim

- Preparation of a general study of the Venice Commission: to be adopted in December 2013

- The study will include recommendations based on the conclusions of the seminar held in Tbilisi on 17-18 April 2013

Seminar on the use of administrative resources during electoral campaigns,

Tbilisi, 17-18 April 2013

Results = final conclusions (1/2)

Discussions focused on improvements related inter alia to: Importance of guaranteeing the principle of equality of opportunity

for political parties and candidates; This entails a neutral and ethical attitude by state authorities This implies tackling the misuse of administrative resources.

Seminar on the use of administrative resources during electoral campaigns,

Tbilisi, 17-18 April 2013

Results = final conclusions (2/2)

The principle of neutrality should also apply to civil servants as individuals; During electoral campaigns, incumbents and officials in public positions that

are running for office, have to avoid representing themselves as representatives of the government or office;

An independent body should be in charge of tackling against the misuse of administrative resources during electoral campaigns.

Participation in the 10 th European Conferenceof the Electoral Management Bodies,

Chisinau, 26-27 June 2013

The Code of Good Practice in Electoral mattersStrengths and potential developments

Aim

Favouring exchanges of experiences between the European electoral management bodies by the participation of the targeted EMBs in the annual EMB Conferences, organised by the Venice Commission.

The Code of Good Practice in Electoral mattersStrengths and potential developments

Results = conclusions (1/2)

- Importance of the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters as an internationally recognised document in the electoral field- Domestic courts and Electoral Management Bodies should act in conformity with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and should be guided by the key principles of the Code

The Code of Good Practice in Electoral mattersStrengths and potential developments

Results = conclusions (2/2)

-Public trust in any electoral process is fundamental to free and fair elections;- Importance of following the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters, in particular concerning:

- the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns- the functioning of electoral management bodies

- Complementarity of the activities of various Council of Europe bodies in the electoral field, including the Venice Commission, the Assembly and the Congress- Growing co-operation between regional and international organisations in the electoral field

• EXPECTED RESULT 1:

• AchievementsRegular co-operation and exchange of views

between Central Electoral CommissionsDissemination of the « case-law » of the Venice

Commission, in particular in the field of voters’ registers and electoral disputes

Report on the use of administrative resources to be finalised by the end of 2013

Next activity: seminar on election observationStrasbourg, 25-26 November 2013

Expected result: exchange of views and good practices enabling the electoral commissions to take account of their peers’ experience

Issues to be addressed:

• Who has the right to observe? Invitation/Accreditation• The time(s) of election observation (before – during – after Election• The rights of election observers/their possible limitations – the role of election commissions in

guaranteeing these rights• The role of election commissions in the training of election observers• Election observation reports: a basis for improving the functioning of election commissions?• Practical difficulties/questions encountered by the election commissions with observers: each CEC

would then raise issues to be discussed on a peer-to-peer basis as well as with international experts

EXPECTED RESULT 2:

OBSERVERS ARE BETTER PREPARED TO FULFIL THEIR ROLE AND PROVIDE

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ABOUT THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Reporting on Elections: Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) (Activity 2.3)

AimThe handbook is a response to the request made by domestic election observers for a “tool-kit” on election reporting. Aim of the handbook is to give guidance to domestic observer groups on the drafting, structure and language of the observation report. The document also refers to different techniques for information’s gathering and for the assessment of compliance of elections with domestic legislation and international standards. 

Reporting on Elections: Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations

Results 1/2

Drafting of the Handbook from May to September 2013 Translation of the Handbook into Russian language: September – October 2013Publication of the Handbook : October 2013 (1000 copies in English and Russian)Presentation of the Handbook at a seminar addressed to national NGOs responsible for domestic observation of elections and representatives of Electoral Training Centres in EAP countries (Vilnius, 14 November 2013)

Reporting on Elections: Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations

Results 1/2

Drafting of the Handbook from May to September 2013 Translation of the Handbook into Russian language: September – October 2013Publication of the Handbook : October 2013 (1000 copies in English and Russian)Presentation of the Handbook at a seminar addressed to national NGOs responsible for domestic observation of elections and representatives of Electoral Training Centres in EAP countries (Vilnius, 14 November 2013)

Reporting on Elections: Council of Europe Handbook for Civil Society Organisations

Results 2/2

The Vilnius event will be preceded by discussions aimed at :

Creating a EAP election observation network; Setting-up of peer-review mechanisms on election

observation at regional level; Selecting a core group of trainers; Defining a training methodology and a time table for

its implementation in EAP countries.

EXPECTED RESULT 2:

Achievements/regional level

Drafting and publication of the CoE Handbook for Civil Society Organisations on Election Reporting

Setting-up of the EAP election observation network

Definition of a training methodology and a time table for its implementation in EAP countries in 2014.

Coordination of efforts ensured with EPDE, NDI, OSCE/ODIHR

EXPECTED RESULT 2:

Achievements/country level

Pilot implementation of the CoE Handbook for Civil Society Organisations on Election Reporting in Georgia (ahead of 2013 Presidential elections)

EXPECTED RESULT 2:

The way ahead

CoE to draft terms of reference for the network of CSOs

CoE to act as the Secretariat of the network of CSOs

CoE to organise Ttraining of Trainers on the Reporting on Elections: CoE Handbook for CSOs

CoE to organise peer-to-peer trainings of CSOs

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

VOTERS ARE BETTER AWARE OF THEIR ROLE IN THE FUNCTIONING OF

DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS AND INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION

National reports on women participation in politics (Activity 3.5)

Aim

From February to June 2013, Schools of Political Studies from Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine were requested to organise a 3-day workshop dedicated to gender issues aimed at reviewing the current situation in their countries and prepare a country report covering gender disparities related issues such as unemployment, political engagement, education, standards of living, the role of the media, etc.

National reports on women participation

in politics

Results 1/2 

Five SPS (with the exception of Baku SPS) issued a country report on the «Participation of Women in Public and Political Life»;

Reports have been translated into English;

Reports were published in 1500 copies both in national and English languages.

National reports on women participation

in politics

Results 2/2

The findings of the reports will be presented at a high-level regional conference to take place on 10 December 2013 in Chisinau (Activity 3.6);

The conference will serve as a basis for the development of a regional platform which will follow-up the recommendations aimed at increasing women participation in decision making.

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

Achievements first-time voters/regional level

Drafting of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 12 to 14 years »

Drafting of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 14 to 16 years »

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

Achievements first-time voters/country level

Pilot implementation of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 14 to 16 years » in public school N°51, Tbilisi, Georgia (19.12.2012)

Pilot implementation of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 14 to 16 years » in Heratsi High School, Yerevan, Armenia (December 2012)

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

Achievements women representation in electoral process/regional level

Establishment of a platform aimed at increasing women engagement in elections and decision making

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

Achievements women representation in electoral process/country level

Country reports with statistical data available concerning women representation in decision making and politics in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

The way ahead with a view to raise awareness of first-time voters

Further implementation of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 12 to 14 years » in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus

Further implementation of the Curriculum on « Introduction into elections for students of 14 to 16 years » in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus

Organisation of student debates on the role and importance of elections in a democratic society

EXPECTED RESULT 3:

The way ahead with a view to increase women representation at all stages of the electoral process

Establishment of a platform aimed at increasing women engagement in elections and decision making;

Based on the answers by EAP countries to an ad-hoc questionnaire, analyse the functioning of electoral systems in EAP countries from a gender perspective;

Promote women participation in the political process as political activists, party members, candidates and voters;

Facilitate the implementation of gender equality standards.

THANK YOU!