Page 234 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

LEADERSHIP ROLE number of interna onal organiza ons. The first of these
Interna onal leadership and outreach: conferences was held during October 31- November 1,
India is a leading member of the ‘Democracy Cohort on 2022 on the theme ‘Role, Framework and Capacity of
Electoral Integrity’ set up in pursuance of the Summit for Elec on Management Bodies’ where nearly 50
Democracy, 2021 ins tuted by the US President Joseph R. representa ves from EMBs of 11 countries par cipated.
Biden, Jr. to focus on the challenges and opportuni es In the second conference dedicated to ‘Use of
before the democracies. "Democracy", said President Technology and Elec on Integrity’ held during January
Biden "doesn't happen by accident. We have to defend it, 23-24, 2023 over 40 par cipants from EMBs of 16
fight for it, strengthen it, renew it". Prime Minister na ons, diplomats of eight foreign missions in New Delhi
Narendra Modi was amongst the global leaders who in addi on to delegates from Interna onal IDEA and IFES
addressed the first Summit for Democracy held in virtual par cipated. The 3 Interna onal Conference on the
mode between December 9 and 11, 2021. Shortly a er theme of ‘Inclusive Elec ons and Elec on Integrity’ was
Rajiv Kumar assuming Chief Elec on Commissioner's held in virtual format on March 9, 2023 in which 59
office, a four member US delega on led by US Under par cipants from EMBs of 31 na ons in addi on to two
Secretary (Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights) representa ves from Interna onal IDEA, IFES and two
called upon on May 17, 2022 to officially request India to Civil Society Organisa ons (CSOs) par cipated.
lead "Democracy Cohort on Electoral Integrity" and share India currently holds the Chair of the Associa on of Asian
its knowledge, experience and technical exper se in the Elec on Authori es (AAEA) for the term 2022-24. India
field of electoral management with the world. was elected to the posi on at a mee ng of the Execu ve
Elec on Commission of India, in honouring the request, Board and General Assembly of the Associa on at
has hosted three interna onal conferences of Manila, the Philippines on May 7, 2022. The presenta on
Democracy Cohort in New Delhi since then. All three of Elec on Commission of India laid emphasis on
conferences saw the ac ve par cipa on of Elec on targeted interven ons to break socio-poli cal barriers in
Management Bodies (EMBs) from mul ple na ons and a electoral and poli cal processes in order to ensure
inclusive and par cipa ve elec ons.
Elec on Commission of India is a founding member of the
AAEA that was established in 1998. At present, 20 Asian
Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) are its members.
The IIIDEM, an arm of Elec on Commission of India, has
conducted customised capacity development and training
programmes for several AAEA member countries.
The India A-WEB Centre (h p://indiaawebcentre.org/)
works at present from Nirvachan Sadan, the headquarters
of Elec on Commission of India. The Centre publishes an
rd
ECI hosts 3 International Conference on ‘Inclusive Elections and
Elections Integrity’ as the lead for the Cohort on ‘Election Integrity’ on ‘A-WEB India Journal of Elec ons’ having periodicity of
March 9, 2023 six months.

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