Equal Participation in Political and Public Affairs

A/HRC/RES/27/24View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, under agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, published in 2014.

What other versions does this mandate have?

6 versions · 2014–2024

This is an older version — the most recent is A/HRC/RES/57/17

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2024	A/HRC/RES/57/17	Equal participation in political and public affairs	2,288	55%Compare
2021	A/HRC/RES/48/2	Equal participation in political and public affairs	2,227	12%Compare
2018	A/HRC/RES/39/11	Equal participation in political and public affairs	412	16%Compare
2016	A/HRC/RES/33/22	Equal participation in political and public affairs	1,758	67%Compare
2015	A/HRC/RES/30/9	Equal participation in political and public affairs	1,454	76%Compare

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Anti-Discrimination Measures Civil and Political Rights Equal Opportunity Political Participation Report Preparation

What’s in this document?

16 operative paragraphs

Expresses concern that, despite progress made towards the full implementation of the right to participate in public affairs worldwide, many people continue to face obstacles, including discrimination, in the enjoyment of their right to participate in the public affairs of their countries as well as in the enjoyment of other human rights that enable it;

Recognizes that women, persons belonging to marginalized groups or minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations are among those who are most affected by discrimination in participation in political and public affairs;

Reaffirms the obligation of States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that every citizen has an effective right and opportunity to equal participation in public affairs;

Notes with appreciation the study on the factors that impede equal political participation and steps to overcome those challenges, prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,² and urges all States to consider, as appropriate, the conclusions and recommendations of the study, and to ensure the full, effective and equal participation of all citizens in political and public affairs, including by, inter alia:

²A/HRC/27/29.

Complying fully with their international human rights law obligations and commitments with regard to participation in political and public affairs, including by reflecting them in their national legislative framework;

Considering signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other core international human rights treaties;

Taking all necessary measures to eliminate laws, regulations and practices that discriminate, directly or indirectly, against citizens in their right to participate in public affairs 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;

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 participating fully and effectively in political and public affairs, including, inter alia, reviewing and repealing measures that unreasonably restrict the right to participate in public affairs, and considering adopting, on the basis of reliable data on participation, temporary special measures, including legislative acts, aimed at increasing the participation of underrepresented groups, in all aspects of political and public life;

Taking appropriate measures to encourage publicly and promote the importance of participation of all citizens in political and public affairs, in particular women, persons belonging to marginalized groups or to minorities, and persons in vulnerable situations, including by engaging them in designing, evaluating and reviewing policies on participation in political and public affairs;

Developing information and educational materials on the political process and relevant international human rights law provisions to facilitate equal participation in political and public affairs;

Taking steps to promote and protect the voting rights of all those entitled to vote without any discrimination, including facilitation of voter registration and participation and the provision of electoral information and voting papers in a range of accessible formats and languages, as appropriate;

Ensuring the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association, education and development, and facilitating equal and effective access to information, media and communication technologies in order to enable pluralistic debates fostering inclusive and effective participation in political and public affairs;

Creating a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders and civil society organizations who, together with other actors, play a key role in the effective promotion and protection of all human rights;

Providing full and effective access to justice and redress mechanisms to those citizens whose right to participate in public affairs has been violated, including by developing effective, independent and pluralistic national human rights institutions, in accordance with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (Paris Principles);

Encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, the special procedures, the treaty bodies and other relevant international human rights mechanisms to address the right to participate in public affairs in their work, within their respective mandates;

Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, with the participation of States, relevant United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, the treaty bodies, the special procedures, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders, to prepare a study on best practices, experiences and challenges and ways to overcome them with regard to the promotion, protection and implementation of the right to participate in public affairs in the context of the existing human rights law with a view to identifying possible elements of principles guiding this implementation, and to present it to the Council at its thirtieth session for further consideration.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

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