Guidelines on the right to participate in public affairs
Author:
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Presented:
At the 39th session of the HRC
Background
OHCHR prepared the Guidelines in 2018 as requested by resolution
33/22 of the Human Rights Council. The Council, in resolution
39/11 adopted by consensus, took note with interest of the Guidelines and presented them as a set of orientations for States and others.
Summary
The Guidelines on the effective implementation on the right to participate in public affairs provide directions for States on how to ensure participation. The Guidelines include recommendations on different dimensions of the right to participate, for example on participation in electoral processes, on direct participation in non-electoral contexts and on participation at the international level.
Guidelines
Overview of the Guidelines on Participation

Summary of the Guidelines on Participation

Inputs received
Consultative drafting process
The Human Rights Council requested OHCHR to ensure the creation of the Guidelines was open, transparent and inclusive and to widely consult with all relevant stakeholders.
OHCHR organized five regional consultations for two days in each of the following regions:
i. The Americas
ii. Africa
iii. Asia Pacific
iv. Middle East and North Africa
v. Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Others
Regional consultation for the Americas, Santiago, Chile, 13-14 June 2017
- Concept note [English], [Spanish]
-
Background paper, by Fabián Salvioli, Professor of Public International Law, Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, and Director of the Human Rights Institute, La Plata National University (Argentina). Former member and Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Committee, Spanish only
- Provisional Agenda [English], [Spanish]
- Registration form [English], [Spanish]
- Logistics note for participants [English], [Spanish]
-
Final list of participants
-
Short video of the regional consultation for the Americas
- Summary of the discussions [English]
Regional consultation for Sub-Saharan Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 6- 7 September 2017
Regional consultation for the Asia and Pacific region, Bangkok, Thailand, 2-3 October 2017
Regional consultation for the Middle East and North Africa region, Beirut, Lebanon, 21-22 December 2017
- Concept note [English] [Arabic]
- Background paper by Mr Fateh Azzam, Human Rights consultant [English] Annexe: Compilation of jurisprudence from United Nations human rights mechanisms [English]
- Registration form [English] [Arabic]
- Logistics note for participants [English]
- Provisional Agenda [English]
- Final list of participants [English]
- Summary of the discussions [English]
Regional consultation for Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Others, Geneva, Switzerland, 9-10 April 2018
Call for input
OHCHR also invited written submissions, available below.
Member States
Intergovernmental organizations
Regional human rights mechanisms
United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes
National Human Rights Institutions
NGOs
Academics and experts