Electoral participation
can take multiple forms that contribute to the realization of civil and
political rights. Voters and candidates exercise, respectively, their right to
vote (active suffrage) and their right to stand for election (passive
suffrage). Members of EMBs exercise their right to have access to public service
in their country. Journalists and media professionals exercise their right to
freedom of opinion and expression and contribute to fulfill the right of all
citizens and the general public to access election-related information.
Domestic observers, election mediators, voter education agents, and other civil
society representatives exercise their right to participate in non-governmental
organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of
the country.
Gender inequality and
discrimination in society and in politics have a negative impact on women’s
participation in elections. In various roles as voters, candidates,
journalists, civil society representatives and electoral administrators, women
frequently face social, physical, psychological, economic and cultural
obstacles that hinder the full exercise of their participation rights and they
often suffer from discrimination and violence.
