A/HRC/RES/48/2
Reaffirming further that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at all
levels of decision-making, as well as that of girls, free from violence and discrimination, is
essential to the achievement of gender equality, inclusive economic growth and sustainable
development, the rule of law, peace and democracy,
Underlining the importance of the active, meaningful and inclusive participation of
youth in decision-making and the important role that youth can play in the promotion of
sustainable development and the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights,
and the importance of removing barriers that prevent the meaningful participation of youth
in public affairs,
Recognizing that the rights of everyone to freedom of expression, to peaceful
assembly, to freedom of association and to education, access to information, and inclusive
economic empowerment are among the essential conditions for equal participation in
political and public affairs and must be promoted and protected, both online and offline,
Emphasizing the critical importance of full and effective participation in political and
public affairs for democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion, economic growth, sustainable
development and the advancement of gender equality, as well as for the realization of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Bearing in mind that measures necessary to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID19) pandemic have had a considerable impact on public participation, including through
restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, to peaceful assembly and to freedom of
association, and on access to information, affecting particularly the work of the media and
civil society, including women’s rights organizations and organizations of persons with
disabilities, and direct participation in decision-making, and leading to restrictions in the
context of electoral processes,
Reaffirming that emergency measures taken by Governments in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic must be necessary, proportionate to the evaluated risk and applied in a
non-discriminatory way, have a specific focus and duration, and be in accordance with the
State’s obligations under applicable international human rights law,
Bearing in mind the crucial importance of full, equal and meaningful participation for
the recovery from the impact of the pandemic, and recognizing that the broad-based
participation by civil society actors can help to ensure that the recovery responds to real needs
and leaves no one behind,
Recognizing that participation and involvement in decision-making may contribute to
effective and inclusive vaccine policies ensuring unhindered, timely, fair and equitable access
to vaccines, including for people living in the least developed countries, bearing in mind that
immunization against COVID-19 is a global public good for health,
Recognizing also the importance of free, fair, transparent, inclusive, genuine and
periodic elections by universal and equal suffrage, including in new democracies and
countries in democratic transition, in order to empower citizens to express their will and to
promote a successful transition to long-term sustainable democracies,
Recognizing further that Member States are responsible for ensuring transparent,
periodic, free and fair elections, free of intimidation, coercion and tampering with counting
of the votes,
Emphasizing 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 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including
in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery from its impact,
Welcoming the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, 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, including in the context of the
COVID-19 pandemic,
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