CEN Biennial Conference 2016

This is the Official Application for CEN 2016 Biennial Conference. The app provides the full conference agenda, floor plan and speaker listings, plus session info and useful booklets and reading material.

Elections are not the singular marker of a democracy, nonetheless an election conducted according to internationally accepted standards is an important indication of the health of a country’s democracy.

Although the framework and national circumstances of each country’s democratic arrangements varies and so there is no one model to fit all instances; internationally there is a common understanding of what constitutes a genuine and credible election and it is reflected in the various international and regional standards to which countries have committed themselves. Additionally, while the shape and form of a country’s election management body may vary, the tasks it is charged to perform and the principles it should uphold are uniform.

The quality of an electoral process invariably reflects the quality of the election management body, and the trust of and confidence in the outcome reflects the trust and confidence citizens have in the management of the process.

The Commonwealth is committed to advancing norms and principles for good governance and electoral standards, as well as enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of election management bodies, thereby enhancing member countries’ capacity to hold credible elections which enjoy the confidence of the people. As such, the theme for this year’s conference is Advancing Commonwealth Principles for Good Electoral Practice. On this theme, the aim of the conference is to identify guiding principles and good practices for electoral issues of relevance to all CEN members. The insights arising from our discussions will be used to develop practical Commonwealth good practice guides, which can invaluable to the promotion and embedding of these norms and principles.

Since its inception in 2010, the key aim of the Commonwealth Electoral Network (CEN) is to advance norms and good electoral practice among EMBs, with a view to promoting integrity and credibility of elections across the Commonwealth. The establishment of the CEN reflects the Commonwealth’s firm belief that election management bodies (EMBs) are at the heart of the electoral process. Where an EMB is independent, capable and transparent, it can play a crucial role in ensuring the credibility of an election and public and political confidence in it.

We hope that the 2016 Conference will once again offer important opportunities to further debate, knowledge and information sharing among election practitioners. We also hope through this conference and the experiences of colleague to continue to promote principles and good practice for managing elections.