Peter Erben
Encyclopedia
Peter Erben is a senior electoral manager with global experience in directing, advising and supporting complex elections in post-conflict, transitional and developing countries usually working for or alongside with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
International Foundation for Electoral Systems
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...

 and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

.

History

From 1992 to 1995 Peter Erben worked for the European Union Monitoring Mission (ECMM)as a military observer in its effort to resolve, observe and report on the conflicts as they swept over this region.

In 1996 Peter Erben joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While at the OSCE he participated in managing the first four post-conflict elections, ending up as the Chief of Staff for the mission. With this experience, Peter Erben set out on a career focused on the management of elections and became one of a few international experts entrusted with directing elections for other nations.

In 2000, on behalf of the OSCE and the UN, he co-directed the first post-conflict election in Kosovo and became the Chief Electoral Officer of Kosovo for the second election in 2001.

In 2005 Peter Erben was appointed as the Chief Electoral Officer of Afghanistan for its first parliamentary elections, by the UN and President Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...

. In both Kosovo and Afghanistan Peter Erben was, as the Chief Electoral Officer, a member of the Election Commission. Peter Erben also directed the Afghan out-of-country election in Pakistan and Iran in 2004, and the Iraq out-of-country worldwide election in 2005 which included countries such as Australia, France, the US, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Together the above electoral operations engaged a total of over 250,000 staff at their peak with combined budgets of over $300 million.

When not managing elections Peter Erben uses his experience to assist other nations in establishing and strengthening their electoral institutions. He acted as a senior adviser to election commissions and managed large donor assistance programs for the European Commission and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) in places such as the Palestinian Territories, Nepal, Pakistan and Indonesia.

In between the above, longer, posts Mr. Erben has been on shorter assignments throughout the world, leading missions to Lebanon, the Philippines, Iraq, Bangladesh and other countries.

Recognitions

On 17 November 2008 Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...

 declared Peter Erben a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...

, for his contribution to furthering democracy around the world.

On 29 November 2005 Peter Erben was awarded the Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Superior State Medal for having directed the Afghan 2005 national elections. This order is the highest award the Afghan nations bestows upon a non-Afghanistan individual. It was presented to Peter Erben by Mohammed Zahir Shah
Mohammed Zahir Shah
Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning for four decades, from 1933 until he was ousted by a coup in 1973...

, Father of the Afghan Nation and former King of Afghanistan, in his Palace in Kabul.
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