Analysis:

Human Rights and Elections

ES JIBS

According to the UN, ‘Democracy arises from people’s desire for dignity, equality, justice, liberty, and participation — their desire for a voice. But obstacles to the right to equal participation have become increasingly formidable for many around the world in recent years’.

This view is self evident.

The UN goes on to observe that, ‘In many countries, civil society is threatened by laws and policies that sharply restrict the ability to associate freely and protest peacefully, and many people’s rights to express opinions — including dissenting views — are violently suppressed’.

The UN adds that, both online and offline, the boundaries between fact and fiction are becoming blurred through sophisticated use of propaganda. In many parts of the world, leaders are garnering support not by fostering engagement and inclusion but instead by inflaming xenophobic and antagonistic sentiment, and there is growing political polarisation as individuals increasingly engage only with those with whom they agree. At the same time, socioeconomic inequalities intensify many people’s sense of exclusion from political life.

These challenges create a heightened sense of urgency for those who work to advance the right to participate in public affairs. We must come together to find ways to engage as directly and forcefully as possible, strengthen the approaches that work, and chart new paths and forge new partnerships.

Crucially, there is an urgent need for ‘greater reliance on international human rights norms and standards by the elections community.’ This increases the use of human rights mechanisms, practical knowledge and information generated by elections practitioners, which offers new opportunities to advance genuine and inclusive participatory democracy’.

Perhaps most importantly is the recognition that ‘Respect for human rights is a legal obligation for all states. It underpins the legitimacy of governments and political leaders. It builds states that are strong and secure because they are respectful of their people. And it is central to our shared belief in the value of human dignity’.

Therefore, its clear that there is a legal obligation for all parties engaged in election cycles to observe and act within human rights law and international law.

Recommendations for Civil Society

• Increase use of international human rights law and human rights mechanisms in the context of election process.
• Identify and address gaps in international law.
• Explore the need for new human rights mechanisms as appropriate.
• Improve communication and collaboration between human rights mechanisms and the election community.
• Support the role of civil society and National Human rights institutions in promoting electoral rights.
• Develop better tools and training resources to facilitate effective collaboration.
• Develop better tools and training resources to facilitate effective collaboration.
• Write and follow up on targeted recommendations.