Recommendation 1945 (2010) Final version

An internationally recognised status of election observers

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Text adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Assembly, on 12 November 2010 (see Doc. 12355, report of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, rapporteur: Mr Weekers).

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1771 (2010) on an internationally recognised status of election observers, in which it calls on the Council of Europe member states to implement carefully the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers, as well as the guidelines of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) on an internationally recognised status of election observers.

2. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

2.1. ensure that member states give appropriate recognition to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers, and the guidelines on an internationally recognised status of election observers, with respect to domestic and international observers;

2.2. ensure that they promote the above-mentioned documents, in particular by circulating them to all stakeholders involved in the organisation and observation of elections;

2.3. initiate further work on the regulatory framework governing the status of election observers and, in particular, consider transforming the guidelines on an internationally recognised status of election observers into a recommendation of the Committee of Ministers.