Nonpartisan and independent citizen election observation and monitoring deters electoral fraud and irregularities, promotes transparency and accountability among election officials and government institutions and boosts public confidence in the electoral process therefore enhancing electoral integrity.The work, however, comes with risks as a number of groups have experienced forms of violence, intimidation and coercion, legal challenges, and restrictions. With the recent global developments in the ever changing geopolitical landscape, support for the work of groups and organizations in the democratization space has also been affected.Episode 08 of ANFREL's “The Election Observer” podcast will discuss promoting citizen observer rights and the issues and challenges that election observers and monitors face in strengthening and protecting democracy.