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League of Arab States Delegation Visits IFES

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On February 29, 2016, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) hosted a delegation from the League of Arab States (LAS) as part of a United Nations Development Programme-organized trip to meet with signatories of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. The delegation is learning more about the experiences of international observation groups and technical electoral assistance providers. IFES discussed its assistance to election management bodies and regional electoral bodies, and outlined how the principles underpinning its technical assistance also apply to electoral observation. Participants also discussed opportunities for collaboration between the LAS and IFES.

The LAS began conducting election observation missions in the early 1990s and formalized the practice in 2004. Driven by increasing demand for observation missions, the LAS established an Electoral Affairs Department in 2013. In 2015, the LAS became a signatory to the Declaration of Principles.