2019:Multimedia knowledge/Materials gathered for Wikimedia during the OSCE election observation missions in Belarus and Ukraine
 | This is a Closed submission for Wikimania 2019. It has been reviewed and was not accepted. |
Description[edit | edit source]
Since 2015, there were two elections in Ukraine (local and presidential) and one election in Belarus. I had an honor to be one of OSCE official short-term observers on all of them. In the days of elections and days before I had an opportunity to visit polling stations and observe electoral process, including voting and counting ballots. I have visited towns and villages, the capitals and remote areas of both countries. Why is it interesting for Wikimedia? Because I had an opportunity to take numerous pictures and some short films there. I documented the voting process, polling stations, not to mention many small settlements in Slutsk region of Belarus as well as Poltava and Lutsk regions of Ukraine. I would like to present effect of my work, especially examples how these pictures enriched Wikipedia articles related to Belarus, Ukraine, elections, politics and politicians. There are also some especially interesting pictures, which may be interpreted as proofs for irregularities. I will encourage the publicity to discuss them.
Session outcomes[edit | edit source]
The presentation is an example of opportunity to contribute valuable materials for Wikimedia while performing other activities. It can motivate attendees to be aware of unique situations and places they are in to collect valuable material for Wikimedia. It can also give them an interesting example how these materials can be used in practice.
Session leader[edit | edit source]
Relationship to the theme[edit | edit source]
Goal 17: Peace, justice and strong institutions. Taking pictures of the electoral process and sharing them to Wikimedia is not just about enrichment of its media resources. It is also about making them more transparent and visible to the society. Having the possibility to see the election step by step gives the knowlegde to the people how it should be organised. It also make a pressure on state insitutions to organise elections better and more proffessional, as they are aware they are closely watched. Better observation proccess as well as easier and more wide access to its results lead to stronger and healthier state institutions.
Session type[edit | edit source]
The program design prioritises submissions which are future-oriented and directly engage the audience. The format of this submission is a:
- Lightning talk
Requirements[edit | edit source]
- Room: a small classroom with a projector + screen.
- Audience: All are welcome, especially people interested in human rights and civic society in Eastern Europe.
- Recording: Single fixed-location camera will be appropriate. The presentation can be shared on the internet, with a free-licence.
Additional material[edit | edit source]
The lecture will include a presentation consisting: short description of OSCE election missions in Belarus and Ukraine, my role in it and my place of activity, overall statistics about media collected in the time of the mission and examples of usage of them in Wikipedia articles.