• India
  • Sep 22

EC completes 1 year as Chair of A-WEB

The Election Commission of India has completed one year of chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB). 

The chairperson of A-WEB serves as the head of the association for a term of two years and presides over the General Assembly and the Executive Board meeting. 

The EC has also established India A-WEB Centre in New Delhi for documentation, research and training for sharing the best practices and capacity building of officials of A-WEB members.

Association of World Election Bodies 

The year 2011 witnessed the origin of a new international institution when the National Election Commission of the Republic of Korea (NEC) proposed the establishment of a global association for structural support and firm establishment of democratic elections in emerging democracies. 

There emerged needs for strategic support for emerging democracies to establish legitimate government through free and fair elections and to achieve economic and social development through political stability as international economic and societal assistance struggled to achieve their fruition due to political unrest and unstable political system in these countries. 

The proposal was presented at the Conference on the eve of celebration of the 20th year of Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO) in Hungary. This was followed by adoption of Resolution to establish the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB). 

The proposal was further developed through a series of deliberations in the Working Groups, the charter finalised and finally, in October 2013, the establishment of A-WEB was officially announced along with approval of its charter. 

As on date A-WEB has 106 countries with 115 electoral management bodies (EMBs) as members with 16 partner organisations. 

The Secretariat of A-WEB is situated in Songdo in South Korea.

Functions of A-WEB:

Its vision is ‘to foster efficiency and effectiveness in conducting free, fair, transparent and participative elections worldwide’.

• It aims to identify latest trends, challenges and developments in democratic electoral management and electoral processes.

• It facilitates appropriate exchange of experience and expertise among members with the object of strengthening electoral democracy worldwide.

• A-WEB is engaged in a series of activities in the areas of international cooperation.

• It holds its General Body Meetings on a regular basis. Election Commission of India hosted the fourth General Body Meeting of A-WEB in Bengaluru in September 2019.

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