EU sends election observers to Sierra Leone

Summary: April 17, 2002: Sierra Leone: EU sends election observation mission (Brussels)

The European Union will observe the 14th of May Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Sierra Leone. The Election Observation Mission (EOM) has been established at the invitation of the Sierra Leone government. The Chief Observer leading the mission will be Johan Van Hecke MEP, who is Vice-President of the joint EU-African, Caribbean and Pacific Parliamentary Assembly. In addition, the European Commission is supporting the National Election Commission of Sierra Leone with an election support programme worth 2 million Euro.

Like all EU Election Observation Missions, the key objectives are:

to make a comprehensive, nation-wide analysis of the electoral process, and offer an impartial, balanced and informed assessment of the election.
through the presence of the observers to reduce tensions, minimize instances of fraud, intimidation and violence, and increase the confidence of both candidates and voters to participate freely.

The Mission will have 20 Long Term Observers, who will observe the pre-election phase, and 56 Short Term Observers, who will attend the voting and counting procedures on, and after election day. The Long Term Observers will be deployed on the 18th of April and the Short Term Observers will join the Mission in the first week of May.

The EOM will cover the registration of voters and candidates, the campaigns, preparations for polling day, as well as any complaints or appeals against the results from candidates or political parties. It will also assess the electoral framework, respect for democratic and human rights, and media access during the campaign, the vote and the count.

During its stay in Sierra Leone, the EOM will hold regular meetings with election officials at national, regional and local level, with candidates, representatives of political parties, with civil society and with the media. On polling day observers will be deployed in the field to follow the voting, counting and tabulation process. After the election, the Chief Observer will issue a preliminary statement based on the observation of the entire election period. At a later stage, a more comprehensive report will be issued, with recommendations on possible improvements for the future.

The observation of elections is an important component of the EU's policy to promote human rights and democratization throughout the world. EOMs work on the basis of partnership with the host country, the objective being to develop the national capacity.

Ref: EC02-074EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 17/4/2002

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