CANEOM Long-term observers deployed in Ukraine

KYIV, UKRAINE, May 15, 2014 /CNW/ – Thirty-nine long-term observers
(LTOs) have been deployed by Canadian Election Observation Missions
(CANEOM), in support of Ukraine’s democratic development, to observe
the preparations for Ukraine’s presidential elections scheduled for May
25, 2014.

The observers participated in two days of training in Kyiv covering the
electoral legal framework, election observation strategies and
techniques, international standards and code of conduct for election
observers, security assessments and procedures and an overview of
political, social and economic issues in Ukraine. The country and
political overview was provided by His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk,
Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine.

CANEOM’s Mission Director Kevin Colbourne told the LTOs that “we are
here to observe the elections and thereby assist in improving the
transparency and fairness of the electoral process.”

“We also want to make sure our observers are safe. In addition to
security procedures, threat assessments are being done on a daily
basis, and updated as required,” Colbourne said.

Decisions on the deployment of observers are based on maximizing
coverage across Ukraine while taking into account daily threat
assessments.

The CANEOM election observation mission includes 39 long-term and 300
short-term observers (STOs). One hundred STOs will be deployed for the
first round of elections scheduled for May 25. If a second round is
required CANEOM will deploy 200 STOs.

More than 1,500 Canadians applied to CANEOM to be observers of Ukraine’s
early presidential elections.

CANEOM is organized by the Forum of Federations. CUSO International and
the Ukrainian Canadian Congress have partnered with CANEOM to provide
support to the observation mission for Ukraine’s 2014 early
presidential election.

The mission is entirely funded by the Government of Canada. It is
managed by an independent team of non-governmental professionals.
CANEOM’s core team members for this mission have experience monitoring
elections in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Georgia, Haiti,
Indonesia, Lesotho, Mali, Mongolia and Ukraine.

SOURCE CANEOM

For further information:

Media Contact:
Steve Andrijowycz
Communications Coordinator
CANEOM Ukraine 2014 Early Presidential Election Observation Mission
+38 096 371 3449 (call or text)
media@caneom.ca
http://www.caneom.ca