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Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC
region is the product of an initiative that originated at a Southern African
Electoral Forum Conference held from 11-14 June 2000 in Windhoek,
Namibia. The Forum drew together more than 100 participants from
governments, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society and
research institutions and electoral and political experts from the SADC
region. These stakeholders exchanged views about the determinants of
best electoral practice, especially those issues related to improving election
management, monitoring and observation, and enhancing the
transparency of the electoral process.
The aim of the conference, whose theme was In Pursuit of Electoral Norms
and Standards, was to define a set of criteria to guide electoral practice and
to foster a sound enabling environment in which elections can take place.
The Forum underlined the need for the development of what was then
referred to as regional norms and standards, to provide benchmarks for
national discussions and to offer a guide to ‘best electoral management
practice’.