Chapter 1: International Standards The United Nations Human Rights Committee underlined that “the free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential.”284 States should encourage the development or maintenance of private media outlets that will provide impartial and trustworthy political coverage. 285 If the media is government-controlled, the state must take the necessary steps to guarantee non-partisan coverage.286 The electoral management body should set up rules or codes of conduct to conform to freedom of the press and to punish arbitrary censorship or restraint by the government. The EMB should also restrict media outlets from engaging in behavior that could intimidate or coerce voters, or wrongfully interfere with the legitimate voting process. 287 i. Training The media should be trained in how to cover electoral complaints and basic electoral issues in a fair and accurate way. Balanced media coverage of proceedings of election tribunals is exceedingly important and judicial reporters must be properly trained in some elementary law to ensure the release of honest, fair and accurate information.288 In Pakistan, the ECP, with the support of IFES, drafted an Election Dispute Resolution Pamphlet to provide the media with a guide for “understanding the various and overlapping dispute resolution processes under the Election Law.”289 This handbook focused in particular on post-election procedures. It was made available to numerous actors thanks to translations in Urdu and Sindhi and wide distribution by media agencies and regional press clubs. CCPR General Comment No. 25, supra note 84, ¶¶ 17, 20, 25. Declaration on Elections, supra note 54, art. 3, § 4; Human Rights and Elections Handbook, supra note 9, at 16 . 286 Council of Eur., European Comm. of Ministers, Measures Concerning Media Coverage of Election Campaigns, Recommendation No. R (99) 15, 678th Mtg. of Ministers’ Deputies, §§ I(2), II (1) (Sept. 9, 1999) (“Underlining that the coverage of elections by the broadcast media should be fair, balanced and impartial.”), available at https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc. jsp?Id=419411; see also SADC Norms, supra note 138, at 9. 287 Declaration on Elections, supra note 54, art. 4, § 2 (urging states to “encourage parties, candidates and the media to accept and adopt a Code of Conduct to govern the election campaign and the polling period”). 288 Communique, IFES, Nigeria: Two Day Seminar Organised for Election Tribunal Petition Tribunal Judges by the Court of Appeal in Collaboration With the International Foundation for Electoral Systems on 6th & 7th May 2008 4-5 (June 4, 2008) (on file with IFES). 289 Vickery, supra note 34, at 16-17. 284 285 87