ELECTIONS More than 800 people have completed ODIHR’s e-learning course for short-term election observers. (OSCE/Agnieszka Rembowska) ODIHR has translated a number of publications into Arabic to serve as a basis for the exchange of good practices and transfer of knowledge from the OSCE region to the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation. (OSCE/Bartlomiej Muracki) observation missions rests primarily with the OSCE participating States, the Office continues to assist states in preparing future observers for observation assignments. Made possible by generous extrabudgetary contributions, the training is provided regularly by ODIHR to potential observers. In 2013, ODIHR conducted two training courses in Belgrade for short-term observers and one in Bishkek for long-term observers. These courses were aimed at broadening the pool of observers from participating States that do not regularly second election observers and are eligible for the Fund for Diversification. Over the year, a total of 30 potential long-term and 67 short-term observers benefited from the training. ODIHR also continued to support national efforts to train election observers, contributing to courses and training organized by the German Centre for International Peace Operations, the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, the Russian Diplomatic Academy, the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Electoral Reform International Services and the Swedish International Development Agency. To make training on election observation methodology more widely accessible, ODIHR continued to offer an e-learning course for short-term observers (launched in 2012) in English and Russian. More than 1,700 participants have actively benefited from the course, with more than 800 having completed it by the end of 2013. These include potential election observers, election management professionals, civil society representatives and academics from 117 countries, including from 49 OSCE participating States and 10 OSCE Partners for Co-operation. Support for OSCE Partners for Co-operation ODIHR continues to provide election-related support to OSCE Partner for Co-operation countries. In October, the OSCE Permanent Council tasked ODIHR with sending an election support team to the 5 April 2014 presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan. As part of its preparations, ODIHR made a security assessment visit to Afghanistan in November 2013, jointly with the OSCE Secretariat. The Office also continued its engagement with Tunisia. In May, ODIHR provided expertise to a workshop organized by Democracy Reporting International on election observation reporting. The event gathered some 20 senior representatives from citizen observer groups to share information on ODIHR’s approach in drafting election observation reports and recommendations on the basis of international standards. In October, ODIHR experts presented international standards and good practice in campaign finance to representatives of the Tunisian Court of Auditors during their study visit to Warsaw. Tunisian officials and civil society representatives also took part in O ­ DIHR’s regular training courses for short- and long-term observers. ODIHR Annual Report 2013  /   19

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