The Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) participated in the 13th Executive Board Meeting of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB), which was held in Manila, Philippines, from April 24 to 27, 2025.

Hosted by the Commission on Elections of the Philippines (COMELEC), A-WEB’s Vice-Chair organization, the meeting brought together 37 delegates from Election Management Bodies (EMBs) across 15 countries. This annual event serves as a crucial platform for reviewing the progress of A-WEB, discussing strategic priorities, and fostering international cooperation in the field of electoral governance.

Commission Member Dr. Mohamed Zahir and Commission Member Abdul Haseeb Ismail attended the meeting in their official capacity as Executive Board Members of A-WEB, representing the ECM. Their active participation in the deliberations reinforced ECM’s steadfast commitment to upholding democratic principles, ensuring electoral transparency, and strengthening global partnerships.

 

 

During the meeting, the Executive Board reviewed key organizational developments and deliberated on critical matters, including:

•     The 2024 Progress Report
•     The 2025 Project and Budget Plan
•     The establishment of a Sub-Committee for Charter Amendments

In addition to these discussions, the meeting featured high-level thematic sessions aimed at advancing electoral integrity and enhancing cooperation among EMBs. Noteworthy initiatives presented during the meeting included:

1. The Legacy Project by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, emphasizing civic education, policy dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives.
2. A proposal by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Guatemala (TSE Guatemala) on A Comprehensive Approach to Prevent Electoral Conflicts, with a focus on fostering trust, tolerance, and international collaboration.
3. The Electoral Observation Protocol by the National Civil Registry of Colombia (Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil – RNEC Colombia), aimed at standardizing and enhancing A-WEB’s electoral observation missions to ensure greater transparency.

The participation of the ECM in this important international forum underscores its ongoing efforts to align with global best practices in electoral administration. It also reflects ECM’s commitment to contributing meaningfully to the promotion of democratic governance and strengthening electoral processes worldwide.

The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) is the largest international organization dedicated to election management. The Elections Commission of Maldives has been a member of A-WEB since 2013 and has consistently contributed to its initiatives. Since 2023, ECM has had the honor of serving as a member of A-WEB’s Executive Board.