Comelec assumes chairmanship of international orgs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that the Philippines will assume the chairmanship of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA).

“In a historic first, the Philippines will simultaneously take on the leadership of both organizations, placing Comelec at the forefront of global and regional cooperation in electoral administration,” it said in a statement.

According to Comelec, A-WEB is a global association of election management bodies while AAEA brings together election authorities across Asia.

It said that the chairmanship is expected to provide new opportunities for Comelec to strengthen its partnerships with its international counterparts and facilitate the exchange of electoral expertise.

Comelec said the turnover will take place during gatherings hosted by Comelec from October 12 to 18 in Makati City.

“As the incoming Chair of both organizations, the Comelec through the stewardship of Chairman Garcia will lead efforts to advance cooperation among the member bodies, particularly involving electoral integrity, technological innovation, cybersecurity, and misinformation and disinformation, among others.

According to Comelec, the A-WEB x AAEA International Conference and the A-WEB General Assembly will simultaneously take place on October 15 while the AAEA General Assembly will be on October 17.

“This International Conference will serve as a platform for member election management bodies of both international organizations to engage in a meaningful discussion, exchange knowledge and best practices, and share perspectives on contemporary issues in electoral administration,” it said.

Comelec said it will also present the “Manila Declaration.”

“The declaration is intended for the formal adoption and ceremonial signing by authorized representatives of the participating election management bodies,” it said. — RSJ, GMA News