11/12/2024 Election observation
PACE member Lord Blencathra (United Kingdom, EC/DA) unveiled PACE's newly-created Network of Election Observers during the 2024 Annual Implementation Meeting for Endorsers of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. The event, hosted by ODIHR in Gdańsk, Poland, was inaugurated by former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate H.E. Lech Wałęsa.
Addressing representatives from over 30 organisations observing elections worldwide, Lord Blencathra emphasised the Network's mission to advance electoral integrity across Council of Europe member states and beyond.
“Building on PACE’s decades of experience observing nearly 300 elections, the Network unites 80 parliamentarians from five political groups and over 20 countries,” he said. “This initiative fosters collaboration, shares expertise, and tackles critical challenges such as new technologies and foreign interference. The Network aims to address not just election day but the broader electoral environment, ensuring compliance with international standards throughout the entire electoral process.”
Lord Blencathra highlighted its complementary role to the monitoring procedures already carried out by the Assembly in countries where it observes elections, adding that it would enhance the Council of Europe’s unique "Electoral Cycle" approach. “Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to promote free and fair elections and rebuild trust in electoral processes across Europe,” he added, urging stronger synergies among international observers.
Lord Blencathra also referred to his personal experience as a PACE observer, and called on participants to work for more inclusive missions: “By encouraging parliamentarians with disabilities to take part in Election Observation Missions, you empower them to make a major political contribution. In addition, seeing parliamentarians with disabilities doing political work may encourage disabled persons to get involved especially in countries where they are regarded as of little worth. That is the most important aspect of encouraging disabled parliamentarians to participate in these missions – not to satisfy our personal desires nor show how modern and caring our organisations are.”
The PACE Network of Election Observers will be launched during the January 2025 part-session in Strasbourg.
