HRC adopts Czech resolution on equal participation in political and public affairs by consensus
10.10.2024 / 19:35 | Aktualizováno: 19.02.2025 / 13:01
On 10 October 2024, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on equal participation in political and public affairs. The text submitted by Czechia, Botswana, Indonesia, Peru and the Netherlands was co-sponsored before adoption by 61 other countries. This is our seventh successful initiative on this topic.
This year's text of the resolution emphasizes free and fair elections as a fundamental means of participation. It condemns any attempts to manipulate the electoral process, drawing attention to the negative impact of disinformation and hate speech.
Full, equal and meaningful participation of women is preserved as well as denouncement of discrimination or violence against women in the electoral context. The resolution highlights the key role of civil society and human rights defenders, including women´s human rights defenders, in helping society to face these new challenges. Fort the first time this resolution also protects children's right to civic education, which opens up space for their active participation in public affairs.
The resolution asks the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a report on how States use the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs that were presented in 2018.