Finland: Siltanews – News Desk
Protecting Elections Capacity Development Workshop in Helsinki, Finland, from 25-27 November 2024. Following the success of the first workshop held in June 2024, this event continues the collaboration between International IDEA and the Ministry of Justice under the Protecting Elections project, which is funded by the Government of Canada.
This training workshop built on the insights gained in the first event and aimed to enhance the capacity of national electoral stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of Finland’s electoral processes.
Finland, with its longstanding reputation for transparent and fair elections, offered a fertile ground for discussions on how mature democracies can address new and emerging threats. The Finnish Ministry of Justice, which oversees electoral management, continues to be a key partner in these efforts.
During the three-day workshop, participants—including representatives from the Ministry of Justice, local and regional authorities, and relevant government agencies—engaged in in-depth discussions and collaborative activities. The workshop provided tools to identify and mitigate electoral risks, deal with potential threats, and recover from crises that may arise during elections.
The interactive agenda included expert presentations, hands-on group work, and scenario-based exercises to help participants apply the protecting elections framework in real-world contexts. The workshop also fostered valuable opportunities for participants to build relationships and strengthen both formal and informal networks.
Capacity development is part of International IDEA’s broader commitment to support electoral stakeholders worldwide. Looking ahead, International IDEA and the Ministry of Justice will organize a technical and advisory support event focusing on a Finland-specific challenge. This follow-up initiative aims to further enhance the knowledge, capacities, and inter-agency collaboration among Finnish stakeholders. For more information visit our project page Protecting Elections.