“GONG and the ODIHR worked together in numerous areas in 2003, including at the Zagreb Domestic Election Observer Forum; election monitoring in Armenia, Georgia, and Croatia; and at the Human Dimension Implementation
Meeting in Warsaw.
“Through its continuous support and co-operation with domestic non-partisan observer groups, the ODIHR has
proven to be one of the leading international institutions fighting for democratic elections.”
Aleksandra Kuratko is an advisor at GONG, a Croatian NGO involved in election observation.
Implementation of OSCE/ODIHR election recom-
veloping a more comprehensive and systematic approach to
mendations: At the 1999 Istanbul Summit, OSCE partici-
election observation, further steps are necessary to improve
pating States agreed to follow up promptly on the ODIHR's
their level of professionalism.
election assessments and recommendations. In 2003, the
ODIHR put greater emphasis on post-election dialogue and
Challenges
on how to more systematically engage participating States
on the issue of implementation. ODIHR recommendations
are formulated to outline areas where further progress is re-
The past decade has seen significant improvement in the
quired in order for elections to comply with OSCE commit-
conduct of elections throughout Central, Eastern, and
ments for democratic elections.
South-Eastern Europe, to the point where a number of
countries no longer require comprehensive election obser-
Review of electoral legislation: In 2003, the ODIHR
vation. At the same time, a number of worrying trends have
continued to respond to a growing number of requests for
become apparent in other parts of the OSCE region, partic-
review of electoral legislation to establish compliance with
ularly throughout much of the former Soviet Union.
OSCE commitments. Electoral legislation that does not fully
comply with OSCE commitments is not conducive to the
Some of the problems identified include: (1) the danger of a
conduct of democratic elections.
general erosion of human rights that underpin any election;
(2) reduced competition through restrictions on party and
Translating principles into best electoral practice:
candidate registration; (3) media bias in favour of incum-
The 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document has provided a
bents; (4) interference in the electoral process to the benefit
sound basis for assessing the conduct of elections in line
of those in power by national, regional, and local executive
with democratic values. Since 1990, however, best practice
authorities, (5) restrictions on transparency, making it diffi-
for democratic elections has continued to evolve, and there
cult to audit the vote count and tabulation of results; and (6)
is a need to review how principles are translated into best
lack of accountability for those involved in fraudulent or ille-
electoral practice.
gal activities.
Domestic election observation: Observation by do-
After more than a decade of elections in emerging democ-
mestic observer groups has become increasingly important
racies, lack of experience is becoming an increasingly in-
in recent years and is likely to further gain in significance.
valid argument to explain election irregularities. Many of
While domestic observer groups have made progress in de-
the elections in 2003 showed clearly that the real chal-
8