A/HRC/RES/33/22
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
6 October 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-third session
Agenda item 3
Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 30 September 2016
33/22.
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 all 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 resolutions 24/8 of 26
September 2013, on equal political participation, and 27/24 of 3 October 2014 and 30/9 of 1
October 2015, on equal participation in political and public affairs,
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, and to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic
elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and 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, and for the realization of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
GE.16-17301(E)