OSCE trains election observers from Kazakhstan
ASTANA, 5 November 2015 - An OSCE-supported training seminar for election observers and members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) took place today in Astana.
The seminar was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the CEC for some 40 officials and election observers from the CEC.
Presentations by an Election Adviser from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) focused on international obligations and standards for democratic elections in relation to the participation of women and national minorities in elections. It included an overview of various means to enhance participation in elections of these groups such as quotas and other temporary measures, the shaping of electoral districts, anti-discrimination issues and the OSCE’s commitments to protecting political and civil rights.
The presentations were followed by an interactive session during which participants consulted with the trainer on technical matters and engaged in role-playing scenarios.
“The OSCE Programme Office has worked in co-operation with the Central Election Commission and the Foreign Ministry for several years providing training courses for national election observers who then served on election observation missions for ODIHR and other organizations,” Mirco Guenther, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana said. “For many of the young professionals from the government institutions and civil society organizations that participate in today's seminar, it is their first election observation training and the OSCE is glad to continue its capacity building activities in this important area."
Vladimir Foos, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission noted that the observer’s task is to analyse legislative guarantees, institutional capacities and activities of various participants involved in the election process to ensure that the electoral rights of vulnerable population groups are safeguarded.
The seminar is a follow-up to a study visit in October of four CEC representatives to Helsinki, Finland. The four-day visit aimed at acquainting the group with the Finnish electoral system as well as promoting the sharing of experience and best practices with their counterparts.
The event is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to enhance the transparency and accountability of electoral procedures and strengthen democratic institutions in line with OSCE principles and commitments.