Endorsing Organisations

The following organisations endorse the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.

Organisations	Information
African Union Addis Ababa, Ethiopia website The African Union sent electoral observation missions in most of its member states in sub-Saharan Africa.	The African Union is a regional inter-governmental organization with 53 member states. Since 2002 the Assembly set up the African Union Elections Assistance Unit to strengthen the monitoring and observation of elections. When in 2006 the mandate and objectives of the unit were defined, the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit was formally set up that same year.
Asia Network for Free Election (ANFREL) Bangkok, Thailand website ANFREL has worked in many Asian countries, with a special focus on the South-Eastern region of the continent.	The Asia Network for Free Election is the first regional network of civil society organizations in Asia. ANFREL conducts research activities on electoral reform, democracy and good governance with civil society organizations, set up direct observation programmes and organizes training and seminars.
The Carter Center Atlanta, United States website The Center Center monitored more than 70 elections since 1989. This institute collaborated with election commissions and governments all around the world.	The Carter Center is an organization that works closely with Emory University in many different fields. The CC Democracy Program monitors elections all around the world. The Center also is promoting initiatives to identify and foster consensus on international standards. The Center works to strengthen the rule of law and assisting the civil society in playing a role in the political processes.
Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance (CAPEL) San José, Costa Rica website IIHR and CAPEL work in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in Latin America.	The Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance is a specialized program of the IIDH (Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos) created in 1983. The IIHR is an international institution and leading center for teaching and academic research on human rights. CAPEL provides electoral technical assistance and works with electoral bodies, legislative branches, civil society organizations and political parties.
Commonwealth Secretariat London, United Kingdom website The Commonwealth sends missions in its own member states (54), all around the world: Africa (19), Asia (8), the Caribbean (12), Europe (3), and the South Pacific (10).	The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 countries. The "Democracy and Consensus Building" department aims at building stronger democratic institutions and processes. They provide training and electoral assistance, as well as observation missions.
Council of Europe - European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) Strasbourg, France website The Commission has 57 full members: all Council of Europe member states and ten other states worldwide. the Commission co-operates regularly with many states in Eastern Europe as well.	The Venice Commission is the European Commission for Democracy through Law. This Commission is the Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional matters and has become an internationally recognized independent legal think-tank. Among several other fields, the Commission is also very active in the electoral field. It organizes workshops, electoral assistance missions, and assists political parties.
Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Strasbourg, France website The Council of Europe is composed of 47 countries in Europe and the Caucasian region.	The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is made up of Parliamentarians from the national parliaments of the 47 member states. They meet four times a year to discuss the most important issues and ask governments to report back. PACE must be consulted on every international treaty of the Council of Europe.
Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) The Head Office is in Johannesburg, South Africa. Other regional offices: DRC, Mozambique, Madagascar, Chad. website EISA has recently evolved from an election NGO working in Southern Africa into broader organization working throughout the continent.	The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa has evolved in an international organization that works in many fields: political party development, conflict management, legislative strengthening and many more. In the field of elections, and democratic governance EISA collaborates with election management bodies, civil society organizations and political parties. In addition to being a regional center, EISA is also a full ACE partner.
European Commission Brussels, Belgium website EU Electoral Observation Missions The EU carried out Electoral Observation Missions in several countries all over the world. Nepal, Ghana, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Timor Leste, and Mexico, just to name a few.	The European Commission is a regional inter-governmental organization composed of 27 member states. In the External Cooperation Programme, Europeaid supports elections in two ways: providing election assistance (technical and material support) and planning electoral observation missions.
European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) Skopje, Macedonia website ENEMO works in 17 countries from Central and Eastern Europe (mostly countries from the former Soviet Union)	The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations is a group of 19 civic organizations from countries in Central and Eastern Europe. These member organizations are all domestic election monitoring institutions (they represent 17 countries). ENEMO trains election monitors as well.
Electoral Reform International Services (ERIS) London, United Kingdom website ERIS has worked in several countries in all continents: Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.	The Electoral Reform International Service is an autonomous division of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), the oldest institute dedicated to the study of electoral systems. ERIS, instituted in 1992, sets up electoral observation missions, trains election observers, assists EMBs and organizes democratic support programmes and activities.
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Washington D.C., United States website IFES works in a number of different countries all around the world. Furthermore, it has regional centers in every continent (5).	The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an non-governmental organization that supports electoral democracy. Their projects aim at helping citizens participate in their democracies, increasing politicians' accountability, and strengthening government institutions. In 1998, IFES created ElectionGuide, a comprehensive source of elections information available online. The website is:www.electionguide.org
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) Stockholm, Sweden website International IDEA works with democracy practitioners and institutions in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Arab world.	The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. International IDEA’s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics.
International Republican Institute Washington DC, USA website The is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, IRI advances freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties, civic institutions, open elections, good governance and the rule of law.	The International Republican Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, IRI advances freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties, civic institutions, open elections, good governance and the rule of law.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Geneva, Switzerland website< Since its work expand on many issues and topic area, the IPU works in many countries worldwide. Currently there are 155 members.	The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the international organization of Parliaments. This Union promotes parliamentary dialogue and co-operation by fostering contacts among parliaments, defending human rights and promoting knowledge of the working of representative institutions.
National Democratic Institute Washington DC, USA website	NDI and its local partners work to promote openness and accountability in government by building political and civic organizations, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation. The Institute brings together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, experiences and expertise that can be adapted to the needs of individual countries.
Organization of American States (OAS) Washington D.C., United States website OAS naturally focuses on South America and the Caribbean.	The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, composed by 35 member states. The Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, in the Secretariat for Political Affairs, provides technical assistance, sets up electoral observation missions and researches on electoral processes.
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) Vienna, Austria website OSCE observe elections its 56 member states worldwide, covering Europe, Central Asia and America.	The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is the world's largest regional security organization, composed by more than 56 member States. OSCE works on election assistance projects and provides technical assistance to improve the administrative and legal framework of the elections. OSCE also publishes electoral handbooks and guidelines.
Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators' Association (PIANZEA) The PIANZEA Secretariat is hosted by the Australian Electoral Commission. The AEC National Office is in Canberra. website PIANZEA naturally cooperates mostly with its member states in the Pacific region.	The Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators' Association is an established Network that brings together Pacific Electoral Administrators to facilitate and promote the free flow of electoral information among member countries in the Pacific region, and to provide assistance where possible. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is currently the host of the PIANZEA Secretariat.
Pacific Island Forum Suva, Fiji website There are 16 member countries in this Forum. Recently the Forum has observed elections in Nauru, PNG, Fiji and the Marshall Islands.	The Pacific Islands Forum brings together 16 independent states from the Pacific region, and they all meet in annual conferences. The Secretariat's mandate is to coordinate the implementation of the Pacific Plan for strengthening regional cooperation and integration.
SADC Parliamentary Forum Windhoek, Namibia website	The SADC Parliamentary orum has taken a keen interest in election observation in its member states. In this regard the Forum has observed elections in Namibia and Mozambique in and Zimbabwe Mauritius and Tanzania in Based on these observations the Forum has developed and adopted Electoral Norms and Standards for the SADC region which serve as bench marks against which to assess the management and the conduct of elections in the region .
United Nations Secretariat New York, United States website Since 1992, the Secretariat has received 406 requests to send observation mission in 107 member states. During the last reporting period (2005 - 2007), the United Nations provided electoral assistance to 43 Member States worldwide.	In the United Nation Secretariat, the Electoral Assistance Division is the body responsible for electoral programmes and projects (link). This Division coordinates and reports on all electoral activities undertaken by the United Nations.
United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC) Washington D.C., United States website	The United States Association of Former Members of Congress created the International Election Monitors Institute, in partnership with other institutions (the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians and the European Parliament Former Members Association). This Institute collaborate with NGO's to put trained legislators in existing missions and engages former parliamentarians in post-election democracy building.
New endorsements
Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO) Budapest, Hungary website This association involves 22 countries in Eastern Europe.	The Association of European Election Officials is a non-profit, regional organization, independent from political parties and governments, and with a legal standing based on international law. This Association promotes the institutionalization and professionalize of democratic procedures. Currently, members are 23 EMBs, state-level associations of election officials, and one international non-profit organization. ACEEEO is also a ACE Regional Center.
Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) Ottawa, Canada website	The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians is a non-profit corporation composed of men and women who have served in the Senate or in the House of Commons in Canada. They commit to strengthening the institutions of democracy and public participation in the political process.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Strasbourg, France website The Congress monitors local democracy in Europe and releases monitoring reports on the situation in the member states.	The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is a consultative body for the Council of Europe and it represents local and regional authorities. This body promotes and supports local and regional democracies. In particular, the mission of the Congress is to help the new member states to improve local and regional self-government.
Democracy International Bethesda (Maryland), United States website Democracy International has worked in more than 40 countries worldwide.	Democracy International is a firm that works for the US Agency for International Development and other development partners. It provides technical assistance and analytical services (assessments, evaluations, studies, surveys, etc). DI cooperates with EMBs, government agencies, political parties, and other electoral monitoring organizations.
Democracy Reporting International Berlin, Germany website Democracy Reporting International (DRI) works in many countries worldwide. Recently, DRI launched a Middle East and Southern Mediterranean programme.	Democracy Reporting International is a Germany-based organization that provides expert analysis throughout the electoral process, as well as electoral observation missions. In particular, this organization specialized in providing independent and detailed assessments of the electoral frameworks to define if and to what extent countries meet international obligations and commitments to democratic elections.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Abuja, Nigeria website ECOWAS sends electoral observation missions in its 15 member states in Western Africa.	The Economic Community of West Africa States is a regional organization of fifteen countries, designed to promote regional integration in many fields of economic activities. Currently, ECOWAS sends short-term electoral observation missions in its member states, but it has not yet finalized its own guidelines and approaches to electoral observation.
European Parliament Brussels, Belgium European Parliament website Election Observation in Third Countries website The European Parliament monitors elections in different countries worldwide. Recently EU missions observed elections in Ukraine, Mozambique, Moldova, Lebanon, Ecuador, El Salvador and Bolivia.	In the European Parliament, the European Parliament Election Coordination Group examines all general questions related to planning, organization, evaluation and follow-up of Parliament's election observation missions. In electoral observation missions, the European Parliament cooperates closely with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and other organizations.
European Parliament Former Members Association (EU FMA) Brussels, Belgium website	The European Parliament Former Members Association brings together former members of the European Parliaments, and it is involved in a wide range of activities to spread information about the European Parliament and the EU in general. This association launched the International Election Monitors Institute (together with the US Association of Former Members of Congress and the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians). The Institute mission is to train former parliamentary members to serve as elections monitors, and to participate to elections observations missions all around the world. This Institute works with other organizations, such as the Carter Center and the OSCE.
La Francophonie Paris, France website La Francophonie cooperates with its 56 Member States and Governments: most of the French-speaking countries in all continents all around the world.	The international organization of La Francophonie represents 70 member states that share the same language (French) and "humanist values". The organization promotes active solidarity between these member states.
International Election Monitors Institute (IEMI) They have offices in Washington (USA), Brussels (Belgium), and Ottawa (Canada). website The Institute works closely with the National Democratic Institute and other organizations. Recently they have observed elections in Morocco, under the organization of the NDI.	The International Election Monitors Institute provides basic training to former legislators of the United States, Canada, and Europe. The IEMI recruits, trains and funds former parliamentarians to create an international group of objective and independent electoral observers.
International Expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) Tel Aviv, Israel (Offices in Germany and the United States) website This organization focuses mostly on countries in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.	The International Expert Center for Electoral Systems is a non-profit international organization specialized in electoral monitoring and management, as well as research on legal systems. This organization pays a special attention to Eastern European States and the former Soviet Union.
Sustainable Development Group International Stockholm, Sweden website	The Sustainable Development Group International is an international organization with an interdisciplinary agenda in line with the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations. This Group endorsed the Declaration very recently (2009), and it is currently consolidating its commitments to election observation, and has never sent a mission in the field.

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ELECTORAL FRAMEWORK

ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION

ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT

ELECTORAL INTEGRITY

ELECTORAL OPERATIONS

Endorsing Organisations

Organisations

Information

African Union

Asia Network for Free Election (ANFREL)

The Carter Center

Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance (CAPEL)

Commonwealth Secretariat

Council of Europe - European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission)

Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly (PACE)

Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA)

European Commission

European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO)

Electoral Reform International Services (ERIS)

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

International Republican Institute

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

National Democratic Institute

Organization of American States (OAS)

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR)

Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators' Association (PIANZEA)

Pacific Island Forum

SADC Parliamentary Forum

United Nations Secretariat

United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC)

New endorsements

Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO)

Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP)

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Democracy International

Democracy Reporting International

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

European Parliament

European Parliament Former Members Association (EU FMA)

La Francophonie

International Election Monitors Institute (IEMI)

International Expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES)

Sustainable Development Group International

Document Actions

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR)