Expresses concern that, despite the progress made in achieving equal political participation worldwide, many people continue to face obstacles, including discrimination, in the enjoyment of their right to participate in political and public affairs of their countries;
2
Recognizes that women, persons belonging to marginalized groups or to minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations are among the most affected by discrimination in political participation;
3
Reaffirms the obligation of States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that every citizen has an effective right and opportunity to participate in political and public affairs on an equal basis;
4
Urgesall States to ensure the full and effective participation of all citizens in political and public affairs on an equal basis, including by, inter alia:
a
Complying fully with their international human rights obligations and commitments with regard to equal political participation;
b
Taking all necessary measures to eliminate laws, regulations and practices that, directly or indirectly, discriminate against citizens in their right to political participation on the grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, or on the basis of disability;
c
Ensuring that no one’s right to participate in political and public affairs of his or her country is suspended or conditioned, except on objective and reasonable grounds which are duly established by law and in conformity with international law;
d
Taking proactive measures to eliminate all barriers in law and in practice that prevent or hinder citizens, in particular women, persons belonging to marginalized groups or minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations, from fully and effectively participating in political and public affairs;
e
Taking appropriate measures to publicly encourage and promote the importance of equal political participation of all citizens, in particular women, persons belonging to marginalized groups or to minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations;
f
Ensuring the right of everyone to freedom of expression, to peaceful assembly and to freedom of association, and facilitating equal and effective access to information, media and communication technologies in order to enable pluralistic debates fostering equal political participation;
g
Providing full and effective access to justice and redress mechanisms to those citizens whose right to participate in political and public affairs has been violated;
5
Encouragesthe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the special procedures, the treaty bodies and other relevant international human rights mechanisms to continue to address, within their respective mandates, the promotion of equal political participation in their work;
6
Requeststhe Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a study on factors that impede equal political participation and on steps to overcome those challenges, while taking into account, inter alia, the relevant work of the special procedures, the treaty bodies and other relevant international human rights mechanisms, and to present the study to the Human Rights Council for consideration at its twenty-seventh session.
The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-fourth session (A/HRC/24/2), Part One.
