Non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations seeks to cooperate with election management bodies and other governmental authorities related to election processes and makes observations, assessments and findings based on the national legal framework and obligations concerning democratic elections that are set forth in international human rights instruments, as well as standards, principles and commitments presented in international and regional charters, conventions, declarations and other such documents. The quality of an election process typically reflects the democratic character of governance leading to an election and can be an important indicator of the nature of government that results from an election. The skills and networks developed in non-partisan election observation and monitoring have allowed citizens across the globe not only to sustain their on-going electoral integrity activities, but also to strengthen and expand their monitoring, advocacy and accountability efforts to promote representative, transparent and accountable democratic governance. Therefore: Recognizing that non-partisan election observation and monitoring is a growing trend around the world, reaching thus far over 90 countries on five continents and mobilizing millions of citizens to participate in public affairs, Acknowledging that non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations can be considered as a specialized form of human rights defending that focuses on civil and political rights, which are central to achieving genuine elections, the rule of law and democratic governance, Noting that non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations can contribute significantly to deterring and mitigating potentials for election related violence, and that activities by non-partisan election observation and monitoring organizations can contribute significantly to improving the democratic quality of legal frameworks for elections, the conduct of election processes and broader democratic development, Appreciating that election management bodies and other government authorities have the crucial responsibility to organize genuine democratic elections, that political parties and candidates have a right to seek to be elected, that citizens have the right to vote and to participate fully in election and political processes and that non-partisan election observation and monitoring by citizen organizations has a distinct role to play in the independent scrutiny of electoral processes, 3