Electoral Reform To familiarize citizens, youth, and vulnerable groups with the role of civil society in electoral processes, international and local experts and OSCE staff drafted a training manual in co-operation with the EMB. The manual addressed citizens’ rights, the election cycle, and relevant legislation, with the aim of enhancing their proactive participation in and understanding of election processes. In this way, the OSCE enhanced public trust in the fairness and legitimacy of the electoral process and its main bodies. This reduced the likelihood that societal divisions would be exacerbated and, therefore, diminished the potential for political violence. 5. Lessons learned Elections are a specifically challenging area with a view to building sustainable peace, and require long-term and context-sensitive approaches. Particularly in post-conflict settings, elections are a crucial step on the path to stability. If conducted in line with OSCE commitments and principles, elections form an essential component of democratic governance and the rule of law, not the least by enabling the peaceful transfer of political power and authority. The OSCE’s experiences in South-Eastern Europe show that external support for electoral processes and reform calls for engagement with a multitude of stakeholders at different levels. Although implementing such a comprehensive approach requires relevant expertise and dedicated resources, it is crucial for the establishment of a functioning electoral system. Awareness raising and capacity building among all stakeholders—through 69