OSCE Office trains elections observers in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, September 20, 2011 - The OSCE Office in Tajikistan is training 30 short-term elections observers from throughout Tajikistan in a two-day course that is concluding in Dushanbe today.

According to the OSCE office in Dushanbe, participants responded to a public call to expand the roster of elections observers from Tajikistan trained in OSCE elections standards.  On successfully completing the training, participants will qualify for nomination to participate in OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) international election observation missions.

The training covers OSCE international standards for elections, observation methodology and principles and procedures for conducting election observation.  Special attention is given to gender aspects of the electoral process, as well as the participation of young people.  During the training, participants are also attending a presentation of reports on political party regulation and legislation as well as women’s participation in Tajikistan's political life, organized in Dushanbe by the ODIHR Democratization Department.

“The February 2010 ODIHR Election Observation Mission recommended that Tajikistan's election law should allow for domestic election observers from civic organizations, as prescribed by OSCE commitments,” said Ambassador Ivar Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan.  “If the election law is amended, many of these trainees active in civic organizations could have the opportunity to apply their skills abroad as well as at home.”

“The course is not only to train election observers from Tajikistan but also a means for all of us to share experiences and learn from each other about issues of international and domestic election observation,” said Skye Christensen, one of the trainers leading the course.