In view of the local elections scheduled for 14 June 2015 in the Republic of Moldova, the Division of Electoral Assistance organises from 9 to 11 March one working group on the drafting of a training module for judges on the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights on election related issues and international practice in dealing with electoral disputes. The training module was further used during 4 two-day seminars organised by the Division of Electoral Assistance in Chisinau (30 – 31 March, 1 – 3 April), Cahul (19 – 20 March) and Balti (12 – 13 March). In addition to judges of first instance and appeal courts participants included staff of the election administration, lawyers and representatives of the civil society. Specifically, the trainings addressed short-comings as identified by the last International Election Observation Missions to Moldova, and especially during the conduct of the 2014 Parliamentary Elections, and included: electoral and non-electoral channels of appeal, observance of civil procedures and/or administrative jurisdiction in resolving election-related disputes, transparency of the process, as well as post-election complaints.

The events are part of a series of activities that will be developed in the next months’ all over the country aiming at enhancing electoral stakeholders capacities. It is organised within the framework of PCF - project on the strengthening the capacities of the CCET and of the Council of Europe pre-electoral assistance programme for the Republic of Moldova. They are organised jointly with the Centre for Continuous Electoral Trainings by the CEC of Moldova and the National Institute for Justice.

For more information, please see www.cicde.md and http://www.inj.md.