Media Advisory - Elections that Further Democracy and Elections that Don't

Vidar Helgesen, Secretary-General of the International IDEA at Canada's IDRC

OTTAWA, Oct. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Vidar Helgesen, Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), will be at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 to discuss how elections can advance or undermine democracy, development, human rights, and security. Helgesen will present the highlights of the new report of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security titled Deepening Democracy: a Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide. The report is a strategy for improving the integrity of elections worldwide, presenting five major challenges that must be overcome to conduct elections with integrity and recommendations to governments and the international community.

When: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: IDRC, 150 Kent Street (Corner of Albert), 8th floor

Vidar Helgesen was appointed as the Secretary-General of the International IDEA in January 2006.  Helgesen worked as Norway's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2001 to 2005.  During this period Mr. Helgesen led Norway's efforts in peace talks between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers. He also served as Special Adviser to the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva. He is currently a member of the UN Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Group.

The event is open to the media and the lecture will be webcast live at http://idrc.canwebcast.net/test. Journalists and the public can also join in the conversation through Twitter and Facebook.

For more information visit www.idrc.ca.

About IDRC
A key part of Canada's aid program, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. IDRC also encourages sharing this knowledge with policymakers, other researchers, and communities around the world. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring change to those who need it most.

SOURCE: International Development Research Centre

Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé / ([phone] / [email protected] / @IDRC_CRDI