global Human Rights instruments and conventions of the United Nations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination (ICERD); and the Convention on Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to mention a few. The Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections are also informed by the continental instruments of the African Union (AU) such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981 ). Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen, You will recall that the Ministerial Committee of the Organ adopted these revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. on 20 July, 2015 at Pretoria, in the Republic of South Africa. SADC has hence developed and enhanced its policy frameworks governing democratic elections to ensure that they contribute considerably to our endeavour as a region to work toward the realisation of the vision of the SADC Treaty (1992) - of ensuring that peace and security continue to enable the process of deep integration. The revised Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections enjoin us to employ several techniques of assessing the pre-election, 6