Irregular migration and criminalization of migrants, protection of children in the migration process and the right to housing and health of migrants 2011, para. 64
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The growing importance of the study of political participation in the last 50 years reflects the crucial significance of citizens' involvement for democratic decision-making. As the scope of government activities and responsibilities has expanded in the last few decades, the domain of political participation has grown considerably. First, political participation refers to inhabitants in their role as citizens (and not, for instance, as politicians or civil servants). Second, the activities of citizens defined as political participation should be voluntary and not be ordered or obliged under law. Finally, political participation concerns government and politics in a broad sense of these words ("political system") and is neither restricted to specific phases (such as parliamentary decision making, or the "input" side of the political system), nor to specific levels or areas (such as national elections or contacts with officials).
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Non-negotiated soft law
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Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants