Ashgabat, 01 July 2009 – The UNDP Project “Enhancing Electoral System and Processes in Turkmenistan” is continuing with its capacity building programme for actors of the electoral process. The project has now provided one-day training for Turkmenistan’s mass media, including journalists from national TV channels, central and regional print media to increase their understanding of electoral systems and processes and to improve professional media coverage of electoral events in line with best international practices and standards. Training was organized on 30 June 2009 jointly with the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan.  

This particular training was designed to help national mass media conduct public information and voter education campaigns and broadcast messages on issues related to voter participation in electoral processes. To this effect, training participants discussed legal aspects of journalists’ work during elections and learned of the requirements in relation to publishing the campaigning materials as well as covering pre-election campaigning in mass media. Journalists also discussed their rights and responsibilities. 

“Training was a good forum for all of us to deepen our knowledge about election coverage standards, to learn from each other, and exchange experience and opinions on specific aspects of mass media activities during elections, especially in the run up to elections of members of local self-governance bodies in Turkmenistan,” said Altyn Bayramdurdyyeva, editor-in-chief of “Bereketly Toprak” (Fertile Soil) newspaper.  

In the course of training, journalists were also guided through major election day procedures with the focus on such important aspects as early and outside voting, observer rights, vote count and closing of the polling station.  “I have learned a lot about the electoral process, specifically the status of journalists and activities carried out by polling stations on the day of election. The upcoming elections to local self-governance bodies will be the right moment to apply in practice what I learned during training,” said Myrad Berdiyev,  journalist of “Edebiyat we Sungat” (Literature and Art) newspaper.  

All the above aspects were very important to know for training participants to help the electorate to differentiate among candidates and educate the public about their choices that would eventually lead to nurturing the electoral culture in Turkmenistan and increasing public awareness of election issues.   

In the end of training participants engaged in a mock elections exercise where they had an opportunity to replay essential aspects of the training agenda.   

The UNDP Project “Enhancing Electoral System and Processes in Turkmenistan” was launched in 2008. The project is being jointly implemented by UNDP and National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights in response to the Turkmen government request. The project aims at providing technical support to the government of Turkmenistan with a view to deepening democratic processes and reforms pursued by Turkmenistan. The purpose of technical support is to expose the state institutions of Turkmenistan to relevant international experience to enhance the electoral system and processes in Turkmenistan.  

* * * 

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.