In its resolution 30/9 on "Equal participation in political and public affairs”, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to organize an expert workshop to discuss the existing guidance on the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs. The workshop was aimed at identifying possible gaps and making recommendations in that regard, and at identifying new developments, trends, and innovations with respect to full, effective and equal participation in political and public affairs.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights organized the expert workshop on the right to participate in public affairs on 18 May 2016 in Geneva. A summary of the discussions held during the expert workshop can be found in the report above.

Methodology and programme

The workshop consisted of three sessions. After experts for each session have presented, States, civil society representatives and other stakeholders participating in the meeting participated in an interactive dialogue with the panelists.

The topics for the sessions were as follows:

Session 1: The right to participate in public affairs and existing guidance

Session 2: Current challenges to the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs

Session 3: Innovations and trends on the right to participate in public affairs

• Concept note
• Programme
• Intervention of Mr Olivier de Frouville, Member, UN Human Rights Committee
• Intervention of Mr Fernando Mendez, Centre for Research on Direct Democracy (C2D), University of Zurich