European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC), Venice (Italy)
Training for International Electoral Observers
13 - 18 April 2015
Deadline for registration: 5 April 2015

Open and legitimate elections are the indispensable foundation for sustainable development and an effective democracy and actions supporting the right to participate in genuine elections can play a major role in sustaining peace, security and conflict prevention. Support takes the form of electoral assistance projects and election observation missions. This requires skilled and trained observers.
The aim of the course is to deepen the theoretical and practical expertise on election observation missions, in providing participants with practical skills which will be an asset in case of further applications as international observers. The course will introduce the students to election observation starting with introductory remarks followed by lectures in plenum on the history of electoral observation, international legal standards, observation methodology and missions functioning. Work groups, case studies and simulations will actively engage the participants who will look closely into all different steps of an electoral observation mission, from the exploratory phase to selection procedures through its internal functioning, the relations with national authorities, including the electoral management bodies, the local stakeholders and the political actors involved into the electoral cycle and security issues. At the end of each day, participants will be called to participate to a brainstorming debate with lecturers and share their experience and expertise in the subject.

Module I
13-15 April 2015 
The first module will highlight the quantitative observation of the STOs. Starting with a thorough introduction on the international observation theory and legal standards the first module will analyse the practical life of a short term observer from the selection procedure to the end of mission including the observation of the polls, the filling of the forms, the reporting system and the code of the conduct. The methodology will combine frontal lecturers in plenary, working groups as well as role plays, discussions and simulation exercises.

Module II
16-18 April 2015
The second module is principally intended as a complementary step for those participants who have already attended the first module or the 2012 edition of EIUC training for international observers. EIUC will nevertheless also accept candidatures from first time applicants to EIUC’s trainings seminars. The second module will introduce the participants to the long-term election observation by analysing in depth some of the aspects related to an international observation mission such as working relations, interviewing techniques, media and security.

Detailed information can be found here.