October 25, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE
TRAINING SEMINARS UNDERWAY IN KYIV
FOR UWC INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVERS
On October 24, 2012, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Election Observation Mission began training seminars in Kyiv for its members who have arrived in Ukraine from 20 countries.
The three-day program includes a thorough review of the Law On the Election of People’s Deputies of Ukraine, the international standards of election observation, andthe roles and responsibilities of Short Term Observers. The observers will also familiarize themselves with the work of the Long Term Observers who have been monitoring the pre-electoral environment since early July.
On Sunday, October 28, international observers will monitor the Parliamentary elections in all regions of Ukraine, and its embassies and consulates around the world.
Heading the mission are co-chairs Tamara Olexy, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), and Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). Chief Observer for the mission is former Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, Derek Fraser.
“The main objective of our Election Observation Mission is to monitor whether the voice of the Ukrainian people is heard and to encourage transparency of the electoral process in Ukraine during the upcoming parliamentary election. We were able to mobilize a large contingent of devoted and competent volunteers to observe the voting process at many polling stations throughout Ukraine,” stated Mission co-chair Paul Grod.
“We have come to support Ukrainian democracy by observing whether the election campaign has been conducted according to international standards,” added Chief Observer for the Mission, Derek Fraser.
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.
UWC Election Observation Mission Media Contacts:
Ukraine
Bohdan Matsura, Media Relations
UWC 2012 EOM
Cell: 096-799-4740
Tel: 044-495-8541, 8540
E-mail: [email protected]
Canada
Irene Mycak, Media Relations
UWC 2012 EOM
Tel: 416.919.6566
E-mail: [email protected]
U.S.A.
Roksolana Lozynskyj, Media Relations
UWC 2012 EOM
Tel: 646.867.3179
E-mail: [email protected]
