The Training Center has implemented a new awareness - raising and training course aimed at the development of electoral capacity of NGOs. Representatives of local NGOs registered as observers at the CEC of Georgia for 2016-2018 Elections took part in the above-mentioned program.

Tamar Zhvania, CEC Chair and Natia Zaalishvili, Training Center Director, opened the training. They underscored the importance of the role of local observer organizations for ensuring free and transparent elections in accordance with international standards.

As part of a two-day awareness - raising and training program, the Training Center representatives familiarized the participants with international practice of the assessment of elections and discussed important topics with them, such as:

• the role of observer organizations in the elections process;
• electoral ethics and code of ethics of observer organizations;
• international standards and principles for assessing elections;
• electoral cycle and observation priorities;
• the role of observer organizations in ensuring secure electoral environment;
• electoral disputes and their causes, international standards for resolving electoral disputes;
• relations with partner/donor organizations to support the development of electoral capacity of NGOs (general overview).

Awareness-raising meetings were held in 3 streams in Tbilisi, during July 4-12, 2019 and 62 representatives of local NGOs took part in it (follow the link for detailed statistics).