ELECTIONS  //  13 EOM To support the participation of observers from countries that do not generally second observers and to redress a continued shortfall in secondments, ODIHR leverages the extra-budgetary Diversification Fund. In 2017, the Fund enabled the deployment of 14 long- and 9 short-term observers (13 men, 10 women). The continued support of OSCE participating States for this extra-budgetary programme is instrumental in ensuring diverse representation in election observation missions. The purpose of election observation is to offer constructive feedback and provide concrete recommendations to remedy identified shortcomings in the electoral process. Over the course of 2017, ODIHR published 61 election-related reports, including NAM and interim reports, statements of preliminary findings and conclusions, and final reports. Most reports were translated into the official languages of the states observed. The 28 final reports included a total of 434 recommendations. On 28 November, ODIHR hosted the third annual Electoral Seminar in Vienna, with a focus on election observation and the role of technology in electoral processes. The event brought together more than 50 representatives of OSCE delegations, election management bodies, international organizations and citizen observer groups. 17 LEOM 19 20 15 October Austria Parliamentary 20, 21 October Early Parliamentary Iceland 18 28 October EET Early Parliamentary 16 Presidential Slovenia Municipal The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 15 October Kyrgyzstan 24 September 15 22 October Czech Republic 14 15 October Presidential 13 Germany Mongolia 26 June 12 21 October Parliamentary 11 Local Georgia 11 September Presidential 8 June 10 Parliamentary Norway Parliamentary Albania 9 Early General 7 May 8 18 June United Kingdom 2 April 7 France 6 Early Parliamentary Malta Constitutional Referendum Turkey 5 3 June Presidential 26 March 4 16 April Presidential 3 Bulgaria Presidential Turkmenistan 12 February 2 Early Parliamentary 1 15 March Serbia 2 April Parliamentary The Netherlands Parliamentary Armenia 2017 Election-Related Activities EAM Key findings ODIHR election observation activities continued to reveal a mixed picture of participating States’ implementation of their commitments for democratic elections. Positive practices included: • Strengthened legal frameworks that are generally accessible and aspire to respect OSCE commitments and international obligations, with a number of improvements resulting directly from the follow-up of ODIHR recommendations; • Greater attention to the issue of inclusion, specifically with regard