RES/27/24 Equal participation in political and public affairs

GE.A/HRC/27/29. 4-17973 (E)



Human Rights Council Twenty-seventh session

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,

political, economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

27/24

Equal participation in political and public affairs

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights,

Recalling relevant international human rights treaties, in particular the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social

and Cultural Rights,

Recalling also all relevant General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions

on participation in political and public affairs, in particular Council resolution 24/8 of 26

September 2013 on equal political participation,

Reaffirming that every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any

of the distinctions stipulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and

without unreasonable restrictions, to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or

through freely chosen representatives, and to have access, on general terms of equality, to

public service in his or her country, as well as to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic

elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot,

guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors, and reaffirming also that the

will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government,

Reaffirming also that no distinctions are permitted among citizens in the enjoyment

of the right to participate in the conduct of 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,

Emphasizing the critical importance of equal and effective participation in political

and public affairs for democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion, economic development

and advancing gender equality, as well as for the realization of all human rights and

fundamental freedoms,

Reaffirming that the active participation of women, on equal terms with men, at all

levels of decision-making, is essential to the achievement of equality, inclusive economic

growth and sustainable development, peace and democracy,

Recognizing that the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, to peaceful

assembly, to freedom of association, to education, and access to information, as well as

inclusive economic empowerment, are among the essential conditions for equal

participation in political and public affairs and must be promoted and protected,

Recognizing also the need for further work on the full and effective implementation

of the right to participate in public affairs in the context of article 25 of the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

Recognizing further the need to intensify efforts to eliminate barriers in law and in

practice and to actively facilitate full and effective participation in political and public

affairs,

Welcoming the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights, the special procedures, the treaty bodies and other relevant human rights

mechanisms on identifying and addressing obstacles to the full implementation of the right

to participate in public affairs,

1. 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;

2. 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;

3. 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;

4. 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,1 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:

(a) 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;

(b) Considering signing and ratifying or acceding to the International Covenant

on Civil and Political Rights and other core international human rights treaties;

(c) 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;

(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 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;

(e) 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;

(f) 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;

(g) 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;

(h) 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;

(i) 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;

(j) 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);

5. 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;

6. 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.

40th meeting

26 September 2014

[Adopted without a vote.]