INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTING TO ELECTIONS OBSERVATION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SECURING HUMAN RIGHTS

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of international organizations in elections observation as an instrument of ensuring human rights. The objectives are to analyze the notions of democracy and human rights, democratization trends worldwide, current threats to human rights related to elections procedures and the role of international organizations as entities safeguarding human rights in the globalized world. In order to investigate this problem the researcher utilized such scientific methods as deduction and induction, historical and comparative method and the case study one. Historical and comparative methods were used to trace the evolution of international organizations’’ activities with regard to elections observation and compare various organizations’ pertinent processes and procedures. Case study method was used to collect and analyze qualitative data about international organizations’ activity related to elections observation and to define their role in ensuring human rights, in particular, freedom of expression.
The notions of democracy and human rights, democratization trends worldwide, current threats to human rights related to elections procedures and the role of international organizations as entities safeguarding human rights in the globalized world were analyzed. As a result, it can be stated that in the increasingly globalized world there are various democratization trends. There are different visions and models of democracy, yet no single one can be considered optimal. It can be noted that international organizations play a significant role in elections observation as an instrument of ensuring human rights. The dynamic rhythm of global development helps to promote plurality of ideas, political ideologies and ethical values.
It can be concluded that in this increasingly interconnected world democracy has the function of a mediator promoting understanding among countries, first of all, through the United Nations. Democracy as a type of political regime, i. e. type of relationship between the country leadership and the people cannot function effectively without active social groups and civil society organizations. The political context has to promote freedom of speech, independent media, rule of law, effective judiciary system and overall respect for human rights. Freedom of expression and political choices are among fundamental human rights guaranteed by democratic national and international laws. International organizations are among the most noteworthy entities on the world arena safeguarding human rights and free expression of people’s political will.
International organizations are working actively in order to tackle current threats to human rights, in particular, freedom of expression and freedom of political will. To this end, the international and national organizations provide comprehensive electoral support. The United Nations, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe are actively engaged in providing electoral support and assist in holding objective and just elections worldwide, especially in transitioning countries. They play a key role in providing electoral support in accordance with the international organizations’ mission, bolstering democracy and safeguarding human rights. The role of international organizations in the globalized world as human rights protector continues to be vital and indispensable.


Introduction
Democracy is one of the key universal values in the globalized world. The world is becoming increasingly interconnected in terms of trade, politics, information and communication technologies, commerce, pop culture and security. To a large extent, it is due to the widespread usage of information and communication technologies and continuing digitization of all spheres of human activity. The multi-faceted paradigm of global development promotes pluralism of thoughts, political viewpoints and cultural choices. In this dynamic and further converging world democracy plays the role of catalyst aimed at bringing understanding among nations, even though it should be noted that this process is not linear and unproblematic. S. Huntington holds that social pluralism early gave rise to estates, parliaments, and other institutions to represent the interests of the aristocrats, clergy, merchants, and other groups. These bodies provided forms of representation which in the course of modernization evolved into the institutions of modern democracy [1, p. 71]. One should also note that there are multiple interpretations and models of democracy on the international arena and no one can claim to have the optimal one. At the same time the notion of human rights and respect for people's personal choices is at the heart of any democratic political system.
Democracy as the «power of the people» type of governance per se cannot exist without active social groups and vibrant civil society. Although the United Nations Charter includes no mention of the word «democracy», the opening words of the Charter, «We the Peoples», reflect the fundamental principle of democracy, that the will of the people is the source of legitimacy of sovereign states and therefore of the United Nations as a whole [2, p. 1]. Non-governmental organizations, trade unions, civic activism networks, charity organizations serve to help make the voices of grassroot community members heard. At the same time they help to ensure that the system of «checks and balances» is working properly and prevent governments, as well as business corporations from potential abuse of their power. Freedom of expression and freedom of political choices are among key human rights guaranteed by national legislation of democratic countries and international law. Elections sit at the heart of the democracy spread around the world making possible the act of self-determination envisaged in the Charter of the United Nations [2, p. 1].
Among the most important entities on the world arena promoting free expression of people's political will and safeguarding human rights one can name international organizations. Even though the term «democracy» is not precisely enshrined in the UN Charter drafted after the Second World War, the organization's practices and day-to-day activities are essentially democratic in nature [2, p. 1]. In particular, the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to name a few, are acting in order to provide electoral support and assist in holding objective and just elections worldwide, especially in transitioning countries. At the same time, their role and function has to be studied on a deeper level in order to outline peculiarities of electoral support provided by international organizations' missions. Thus, the goal of this research is to investigate the role of international organizations in elections observation as an instrument of ensuring human rights. The objectives are to analyze the notions of democracy and human rights, democratization trends worldwide, current threats to human rights related to elections procedures and the role of international organizations as entities safeguarding human rights in the globalized world.
The aspects of human rights and democratic governance in its numerous renditions have been comprehensively researched by many scientists. T. Jefferson, one of the democracy ideologists during the Independence War in the U.S., stated that no government can stay away from harsh criticism addressed at it; if there is freedom of press, criticism will also always be there [3, p. 34]. At the time of the Wilson Administration in the U.S. when America emerged as a key player in world affairs, it was believed that peace depends on the spread of democracy, that states should be judged by the same ethical criteria as individuals, and that the national interest consists of adhering to a universal system of law [4, p. 30]. I. Wallerstein holds that the Great French Revolution became a turning point in the history of the current world system. It evoked two new principles that laid foundation of all future geoculture of the current world system: first of all, one started considering political changes a norm and, second, the sovereignty concept was re-interpreted [5, p. 148]. From that moment on it was entrusted to the nation consisting of «citizens» [5, p. 148]. S. Huntington notes that at the end of the 20th century (1970s and 1980s) a wave of democratization swept across the world. Democratic movements were gaining strength in southern Europe, Latin America, the East Asia periphery and central Europe, while Islamist movements were simultaneously gaining strength in Muslim countries [1, p. 114]. Islamism was a functional substitute for the democratic opposition to authoritarianism in Christian societies, and it was in large part the product of similar causes: social mobilization, loss of legitimacy of authoritarian regimes, and a changing international environment [1, p. 114].
Democracy continues spreading in the modern world. Z. Brzezinski states that Japan and India demonstrate that the notions of human rights and centrality of the democratic experiment can be valid in Asian settings as well, both in highly developed ones and in those that are still only developing [6, p. 213]. Their experience, as well as that of South Korea and Taiwan, suggests that China's continued economic growth, coupled with pressures from outside for change generated by greater international inclusion, might perhaps also lead to the progressive democratization of the Chinese system [6, p. 213]. E. Balibar notes that globalization, population migration within the frame of nation states will further promote reconceptualization of the notion of «border» and decrease of this notion usage. Meanwhile technological changes will manifest themselves in inequality of education and will further increase the role of intellectual hierarchies in class fight, in the prospect of generalized technical and political selection of individuals [7, p. 37].
Thus, there are different approaches to the notion of democracy and human rights. Yet, it should be noted that this pluralism is enshrined in international law and political statements of leading international organizations. In particular, in the World UN Summit Outcome Document (September 2005) it is also stressed that «democracy, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing,» and pointed out that «while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy» [2, p. 1].
The notion of democracy is closely connected to that of human rights and freedoms. World leaders pledged in the Millennium Declaration to spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms [2, p. 1]. The UN General Assembly has reaffirmed that «democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives» [2, p. 1].
Methods In order to investigate the problem of the role of international organizations in elections observation as an instrument of ensuring human rights one can utilize such scientific methods as deduction and induction, historical and comparative method and the case study one. Qualitative methods are beneficial for social sciences context. It is a dynamic, intuitive and creative conceptual process of inductive reasoning, thinking and theorizing [8, p. 143]. But it also requires a wide range of activities such as organizing, storing, reproducing and retrieving data [9, p. 208]. Deduction and induction are general philosophical methods that help to identify and trace connections among phenomena. Historical and comparative methods will be utilized to trace the evolution of international organizations'' activities with regard to elections observation and compare various organizations' pertinent processes and procedures. Case study method will be utilized in order to collect and analyze qualitative data about international organizations' activity related to elections observation and to define their role in ensuring human rights, in particular, freedom of expression.
Results and discussion Democracy development and human rights protection are key values of many international organizations, first of all, the United Nations. Democratic values are enshrined in such documents as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A number of the United Nations institutions are involved in activities aimed at strengthening democracy and promoting universal humanitarian values. In particular, these are the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Democracy Fund, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The aforementioned institutions deal with such issues as helping to strengthen security systems and justice structures, working with mass media in order to guarantee freedom of expression, bridging the digital divide and promoting free access to information. Also, these institutions work with parliaments as primary legislative bodies in order to prevent abuse of power. Moreover, these UN agencies provide electoral assistance and long-term support for electoral management bodies [2, p. 2].
The United Nations is very active in providing necessary electoral support. Since the time of the USSR collapse in 1991 the United Nations has provided different forms of electoral support to over 100 countries [2, p. 2]https://www. un. org/en/sections/issues-depth/democracy/index. html. The activities encompassed logistics, training specialists, short-term observation, consulting services and computer support. At the UN World Summit 2005 governments renewed their commitment to support democracy and welcomed the establishment of a Democracy Fund at the United Nations (UNDEF) [2, p. 2]. Fourteen years later despite challenges to international security and peace worldwide this principle continues to guide the United Nations and its 193 member states -the vast majority of the world sovereign countries.
Despite numerous challenges and violations of international law demonstrated by the member states, including the Security Council permanent members lately the United Nations continues to stand for human rights and provide electoral assistance. Today, the United Nations continues to be a trusted impartial actor providing electoral assistance to approximately 60 countries each year, either at the request of Member States or based on a Security Council or General Assembly mandate [2, p. 3]. Electoral assistance is based on the principle established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority [2, p. 3]. In particular, the Democracy Fund at the United Nations (UNDEF) aims its work at developing capacity of civil society organizations, empowering vulnerable groups, such as women, elderly, people with special needs, and overall support of human rights.
Democracy development is also promoted symbolically. On 8 November 2007, the General Assembly proclaimed 15 September as the International Day of Democracy, inviting Member States, the United Nations system and other regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the Day [2, p. 3]. In particular, it was emphasized that democracy is as much a process as a goal [2, p. 3]. Symbolic representation is highly important for visualizing and further promoting democratic ideology and values.
Even though not all of the UN Member States support democracy as a system of values, the organization's activities are to a large extent influenced by its spirit, i. e. expression of free will of people. Democracy, and democratic governance in particular, means that people's human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected, promoted and fulfilled, allowing them to live with dignity [2, p. 4]. In particular, the attention is paid to such aspects, as gender equality, protecting rights of children, the elderly, prisoners, persons with special needs and other vulnerable groups, free access to information and basic necessary resources. Both women and men need to have equal access to decision-making processes and have pay equality, first of all, on a merit-based principle.
The United Nations promotes preventing all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, income, education level or other criteria. To this end, the organization cooperates closely with the governments of the member states in order to promote the aforementioned values and support the governments in respective policies' implementation. Matter-of-course, these processes are closely related to economic and social aspects of public policy. Also, it is evident that the implementation of the above-mentioned principles can hardly be achieved without creation of respective context, political environment aimed at bolstering democratic governance ideas. In 2007, the Secretary-General's Policy Committee, the highest decision-making body within the UN Secretariat, requested the development of an Organization-wide strategy that further defines the UN's approach to supporting democracy, anchored in the three pillars of the UN's work, namely, peace and security, development, and human rights [2, p. 4].
Focus on democracy and human rights is one of the fundamental principles of international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly in 1948, clearly projected the concept of democracy by stating that «the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government» [2, p. 4]. Since its adoption, this document has inspired constitution-making process worldwide. The next important document ensuring human rights' protection is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966). It lays the legal foundation for the principles of democracy in accordance with the international law. In particular, it is outlined in Article 25 that freedom of expression, the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, the right to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors [2, p. 5]. The connection between democracy and human rights is also reflected in article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In particular, it is stated that «the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures» [2, p. 5]. Resolutions 19/36 and 28/14 on «Human rights, democracy and the rule of law» can be named among the recent examples of Human Rights Council work.
The United Nations has conducted multiple activities on promoting human rights' realization and providing electoral support in numerous countries around the globe. In Ukraine, an UNDEF-funded project works to increase the transparency and accountability of local self-governance by introducing parliamentary procedures in the daily work of selected local Councils in all regions of the country, including the East [2, p. 6]. Under the project, representatives of 24 local authorities, one for each region of Ukraine, attend a School of Democratic Rules and Procedures [2, p. 6]. The local councils are adopting relevant innovative parliamentary practices, in particular, broadcast their sessions on the Internet.
The UNDEF also provides assistance in other regions of the world, such as Latin America and Asia. For instance, in Bolivia UNDEF finances a project in the La Paz and Oruro departments in order to provide political and legal empowerment to indigenous communitieshttps://www. un. org/en/ sections/issues-depth/democracy/index. html. It is doing so by providing them with basic legal identity documents, prerequisites for democratic participation which many of them have lacked in the past; strengthening their knowledge and capacity to participate in democratic processes and exercise their rights [2, p. 6].
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (2018) emphasizes the vital role of local observers in parliamentary elections. The lead role performed by domestic observers underscores that this is an Afghan-owned elections process, with Afghans acting as the final arbiter of the result [10, p. 1]. In this case the United Nations does not have observation capacity, but is mandated to support Afghan political leadership in technical issues pertinent to the elections process.
Regarding OSCE activity the organization also provides comprehensive support in holding elections. In particular, OSCE ODIHR is involved in providing overall elections assistance. The Office also supports authorities in their efforts to improve electoral processes and to follow up on recommendations by ODIHR election observation missions, by reviewing election-related legislation, providing technical expertise and supporting the activities of citizen observer groups [11, p. 1].
Concerning the Ukrainian context, OSCE ODIHR sent a mission to observe presidential and early parliamentary elections in Ukraine in 2019. The OSCE International Election Observation Mission issued a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions (Presidential Election, Second Round, 21 April 2019). According to the statement, the 2019 presidential election in Ukraine was competitive and held with respect for fundamental freedoms. Election day was assessed positively, and, despite a few procedural problems, there was a marked improvement in the conduct of the vote count and tabulation compared to the first round [12, p. 1]. Yet, it was also noted that the candidates had not address relevant issues of public concern rather focusing on constructing a positive image for the electorate. The Council of Europe is another leading European organization dealing with electoral support. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has been taking part in the observer missions for local elections in the 47 Council of Europe member countries and, sometimes beyond, since 1990, and has conducted almost 100 election observation missions to date [14, p. 1]. Observing local elections is one of the Congress's action priorities and this activity complements the political monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which constitutes the cornerstone of local democracy in Europe [14, p. 1]. The Council of Europe continues being one of the top world organization promoting human rights and freedoms. However its reputation has been seriously marred recently due to reacceptance of the Russian Federation as the organization member despite numerous violations of international law by the latter, annexation of the Crimea and lack of fulfillment of Minsk agreements. The organization restored full voting rights to the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The Ukrainian delegation expressed their dissent and refused to participate in PACE activities.
The European Union is also actively involved in elections observation activities. Election observation is a vital EU activity aiming to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law worldwide, in particular, it contributes to building public confidence in electoral processes and helps to deter fraud and intimidation [15, p. 1]. The European Union promotes the values of peace, security and human rights. Since 2000 the EU has deployed more than 120 missions (European Union's Election Observer Missions (EOMs) involving the participation of over 11 000 observers [15, p. 1]. Team experts are knowledgeable in areas such as legislation, human rights, media relations and elections management. Election observation also promotes such a core EU foreign policy goal as peacebuilding.
The European Union has developed an important tool for democracy and human rights support -European Instrument for Democracy & Human Rights (EIDHR). EIDHR  This organization also actively participates in creating a vision for Ukrainian electoral system improvement. OPORA experts participated in the development of Roadmap of Reforms (2019-2023) document. It is an analytical paper containing recommendations for reforming Ukrainian political and legal systems. Regarding electoral reform, the experts outline three main goals: 1) Stable and transparent party and electoral systems that ensure the renewal of political elites, development of inner-party democracy and prevent excessive factional fragmentation; 2) Inevitability of punishment for violating the electoral law; 3) Effective and principled Central Election Commission [23, p. 25].

Політологічний вісник, 82 (2019) Conclusions
It can be concluded that in the increasingly globalized world there are various democratization trends. There are different visions and model of democracy, yet no single one can be considered optimal. It can be concluded that international organizations play a significant role in elections observation as an instrument of ensuring human rights. The dynamic rhythm of global development helps to promote plurality of ideas, political ideologies and ethical values. In this increasingly interconnected world democracy has the function of a mediator promoting understanding among countries, first of all, through the United Nations. Democracy as a type of political regime, i. e. type of relationship between the country leadership and the people cannot function effectively without active social groups and civil society organizations. The political context has to promote freedom of speech, independent media, rule of law, effective judiciary system and overall respect for human rights. Freedom of expression and political choices are among fundamental human rights guaranteed by democratic national and international laws. International organizations are among the most noteworthy entities on the world arena safeguarding human rights and free expression of people's political will.
International organizations are working actively in order to tackle current threats to human rights, in particular, freedom of expression and freedom of political will. To this end, the international and national organizations provide comprehensive electoral support. The United Nations, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe are actively engaged in providing electoral support and assisting in holding objective and just elections worldwide, especially in transitioning countries. They play a key role in providing electoral support in accordance with the international organizations' mission, bolstering democracy and safeguarding human rights. The role of international organizations in the globalized world as human rights protector continues to be vital and indispensable.