Kathmandu, Dec 7: The two-day Sixth Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum (AESF-VI) concluded today, stressing on the need of amending the laws for promoting the fairness of elections and strengthening of democracy.
The Forum ended with a 29-point Kathmandu Declaration in the presence of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Prakash Saud.
The event held under the theme 'Building Sustainable Democracies: Addressing Electoral Challenges and Opportunities' has brought together election management bodies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders from across Asia to engage and collaborate. The Forum was co-hosted by the Election Commission and the Asian Network for Free Election.
On the occasion, Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya and ANFREL president Rohan N Hatreichel jointly issued the declaration with the commitment to work for reforms of the existing laws on the basis of suggestions received for making the elections free, fair and credible.
Minister Saud said that the present government is clear that democracy could not be strong and sustainable without making timely improvements on and consolidating the electoral system.(RSS)
