ANFREL trained leaders of domestic election observer groups in Thailand and Timor-Leste ahead of the upcoming elections, released the final report on the observation of the 2022 Nepalese elections, and concluded the second media fellowship on election reporting program during the first quarter of 2023.

Some 35 leaders of election observer groups in Timor-Leste and 40 in Thailand were trained under ANFREL's Training of Trainers (ToT) program. The training workshops aim to capacitate domestic observers in monitoring elections in their countries. The participants learned monitoring strategies and techniques from election experts in Asia.

ANFREL, meanwhile, released the final comprehensive report of the international election observation mission to the 2022 Nepalese Federal and Provincial Elections. ANFREL found that the elections were largely peaceful and orderly but significant inclusion of women and other vulnerable sectors could be improved.

The second iteration of ANFREL's media fellowship on election reporting also concluded with nine Asian journalists trained and mentored. Under the program, the media fellows participated in a series of training sessions and workshops and developed and produced election-related stories published in various publications in Asia.

Here are other activities and updates during the first quarter of 2023:

• ANFREL condemns Myanmar junta's dissolution of political parties
• ANFREL signs joint statement recognizing importance of parliamentary monitoring
• ANFREL condemns the shutdown of Voice of Democracy in Cambodia
• ANFREL Executive Council holds annual meeting

To know more about ANFREL news and updates in the first quarter of 2023, visit ANFREL Newsletter e-Bulletin (January-March 2023).