Importance of follow-up on electoral recommendations highlighted at OSCE/ODIHR event

The need to strengthen efforts to follow up on electoral assessments and recommendations was the focus of a side-event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 20 September 2016.

Keynote speakers from Armenia, Austria, Finland, Mongolia and the European Parliament shared good practices and challenges in addressing ODIHR recommendations, as an integral part of reform processes to enhance electoral legislation and practice.

"Genuine elections are a cornerstone of democracy, and it is important to continuously refine and enhance our electoral processes," said Arpine Hovhannisyan, Armenia’s Minister of Justice. "The support of ODIHR experts in providing opinions on draft legislation and offering technical advice on matters of implementation was of significant value during our recent electoral reform."

ODIHR presented its recently published Handbook on the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations – the first tool of its kind for the OSCE region – and highlighted ways the Office can help participating States in improving their electoral legislation and processes.

“ODIHR’s new handbook on following-up on electoral recommendations is an important milestone for all involved in election observation," said Pietro Ducci, Director of Democracy Support at the European Parliament.  "The European Parliament is committed to support the follow-up of ODIHR’s recommendations in order to maximize the impact of election observation."

ODIHR developed the handbook as part of its continued efforts to improve its methodology and increase professionalism in its election observation activities. All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly follow up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations.