Suzana Jasic, GONG Council Member, will participate as panelist in the OSCE Chairmanship Expert Seminar on Electoral Management Bodies in Vienna on 16 - 17 July 2009.

The Chairmanship also invited parliamentary assemblies, relevant international organizations and institutions engaged in election observation and technical assistance as well as relevant non-governmental organizations with experience in the field of elections to participate in seminar.

The Expert Seminar will give an opportunity to focus on the experiences of OSCE participating States with different models of electoral management bodies, as well as on the challenges that the latter have faced in ensuring their independence and impartiality and in building public confidence.

The issues to be discussed at the seminar will include the structure and composition of electoral management bodies, the role of electoral management bodies in improving election legislation and practice and in maximizing the utility of international and domestic observer findings and recommendations as well as ways to ensure the conduct of elections in line with OSCE commitments and national legislation.

Contribution of Suzana Jasic as panelist will be under Working Session III on Role of Electoral Management Bodies in follow up, with a focus on the role of domestic observers and the interactions with EMBs on proposing and implementing electoral reforms.