UNESCO released its new handbook Elections in Digital Times: A Guide for Electoral Practitioners. The handbook offers a comprehensive overview of international and regional standards regarding the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, political participation, and privacy in the context of electoral processes.

These guidelines serve to provide electoral management bodies, electoral practitioners, the media, political parties, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders with the necessary tools to help prevent online and offline electoral-related violence and manipulation.

Towards this end, existing international law and norms, and good practices around the world, are identified and highlighted. These norms and practices function as important benchmarks, and we have used them to develop concrete practical suggestions for all relevant stakeholders in the electoral process. The handbook aims to contribute to capacity-building initiatives and training, both online and on the ground.