The Commonwealth Secretariat is inviting members of the press to its final Elections at 40 Expert Forum to commemorate four decades of international election observation.
The forum, entitled Electoral Technologies and Social Media: Truth and Trust in the Digital Age, will take place at 2pm BST tomorrow (21 October).
As technology plays a growing role in the delivery of elections and political campaigns, speakers will discuss the challenges, opportunities and implications for public trust in electoral processes.
The session will be moderated by Michael Meyer-Resende, Executive Director of Democracy Reporting International, and the speakers are:
- Dr Kushal Pathak, Director, ICT, Election Commission of India
- Melanie du Plessis, Manager Business Systems, Electoral Commission of South Africa
- Senator the Hon Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security, Jamaica
- Akua Gyekye, Public Policy Manager, Africa and MENA Elections, Facebook
- Senel Wanniarachchi, Co-Founder, Hashtag Generation, Sri Lanka
All media (press and broadcast) interested in interviews are requested to enquire in writing to t.kalejaiye@commonwealth.int
Members of the press are invited to listen in and cover the symposium, which will be held on 21 October 2020.
To attend and cover the symposium, please register at:
https://www.gotostage.com/channel/8d4980e30f0c43068174d4cfc598895b
Note to Editors
- The Commonwealth is made up of 54 independent countries with a combined population of 2.4 billion people working together to pursue common goals, which promote development, democracy and peace.
- Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights as well as promoting regular elections, strengthening election bodies, institutions and processes, and enabling citizen participation and representation at national and local level.
- The Commonwealth has observed over 160 elections in 40 countries.
- We were one of the original signatories to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, agreed at the United Nations in 2005, which is followed by election observers globally.
- Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.
Website www.thecommonwealth.org
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