Rights and Election Standards Initiative The Human Rights and Election Standards initiative began with a conference held in Atlanta in February 2015. Envisioned as the first in a series of meetings and workshops, the launch conference was attended by leading election practitioners and experts and representatives of the human rights mechanisms at the United Nations, regional, and other intergovernmental organizations. Following the 2015 launch, the first of three focused workshops was held in January 2016 in Atlanta. The workshop was attended by a number of thematic and geographic mandate special rapporteurs as well as election practitioners. Workshop participants considered the opportunities and challenges of increasing collaboration between special rapporteurs and the election community, as well as practical suggestions for continued collaboration. The second workshop was held in June 2016 in Geneva and brought together members of key treaty monitoring bodies and members of the election community. Workshop participants examined the opportunities and challenges of increasing collaboration between treaty monitoring bodies and the election community, and practical suggestions for continued collaboration. The third workshop was held in February 2017 in Geneva and brought together election observation and assistance practitioners and representatives of states that have participated in the Universal Periodic Review process and have given or received recommendations on elections. During the workshop, participants discussed the use of the UPR to encourage democratic processes, and how election practitioners can more effectively engage with the UPR process. The fourth and final meeting was held in December 2017 at The Carter Center in Atlanta. During this meeting, the draft Human Rights and Election Standards Plan of Action was discussed, reviewed, and finalized. The Plan of Action will be disseminated widely in multiple languages and in an accessible format. Appendix A The Carter Center and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights are grateful for the contributions made to this Plan of Action by the following individuals and organizations: African Union Commission Asian Network for Free Elections Idrissa Kamara (ANFREL) Koul Panha
Rights and Election Standards Initiative The Human Rights and Election Standards initiative began with a conference held in Atlanta in February 2015. Envisioned as the first in a series of meetings and workshops, the launch conference was attended by leading election practitioners and experts and representatives of the human rights mechanisms at the United Nations, regional, and other intergovernmental organizations. Following the 2015 launch, the first of three focused workshops was held in January 2016 in Atlanta. The workshop was attended by a number of thematic and geographic mandate special rapporteurs as well as election practitioners. Workshop participants considered the opportunities and challenges of increasing collaboration between special rapporteurs and the election community, as well as practical suggestions for continued collaboration. The second workshop was held in June 2016 in Geneva and brought together members of key treaty monitoring bodies and members of the election community. Workshop participants examined the opportunities and challenges of increasing collaboration between treaty monitoring bodies and the election community, and practical suggestions for continued collaboration. The third workshop was held in February 2017 in Geneva and brought together election observation and assistance practitioners and representatives of states that have participated in the Universal Periodic Review process and have given or received recommendations on elections. During the workshop, participants discussed the use of the UPR to encourage democratic processes, and how election practitioners can more effectively engage with the UPR process. The fourth and final meeting was held in December 2017 at The Carter Center in Atlanta. During this meeting, the draft Human Rights and Election Standards Plan of Action was discussed, reviewed, and finalized. The Plan of Action will be disseminated widely in multiple languages and in an accessible format. Appendix A The Carter Center and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights are grateful for the contributions made to this Plan of Action by the following individuals and organizations: African Union Commission Idrissa Kamara Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Koul Panha