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Goal Target Instrument Article / Description

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

 5.5

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Indicators
5.5.1
Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments
5.5.2
Proportion of women in managerial positions
UNDHRD
Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
8.1
Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to have effective access, on a non-discriminatory basis, to participation in the government of his or her country and in the conduct of public affairs
8.1 Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to have effective access, on a non-discriminatory basis, to participation in the government of his or her country and in the conduct of public affairs
8.2
This includes, inter alia, the right, individually and in association with others, to submit to governmental bodies and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and proposals for improving their functioning and to draw attention to any aspect of their work that may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms
18.2
Individuals, groups, institutions and non-governmental organizations have an important role to play and a responsibility in safeguarding democracy, promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms and contributing to the promotion and advancement of democratic societies, institutions and processes
UDHR
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
21.1
Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
ICCPR
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
25 Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
25.a
To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
25 Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
25.b
To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
ICESCR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
3
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the present Covenant.
ICERD
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
5 In compliance with the fundamental obligations laid down in article 2 of this Convention, States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights:
5.c
Political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections-to vote and to stand for election-on the basis of universal and equal suffrage, to take part in the Government as well as in the conduct of public affairs at any level and to have equal access to public service;
CEDAW
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
7 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:
7.a
To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies;
7 States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:
7.b
To participate in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government;
Escazú Agreement
Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean
7.1
Each Party shall ensure the public’s right to participation and, for that purpose, commits to implement open and inclusive participation in environmental decision-making processes based on domestic and international normative frameworks.
7.2
Each Party shall guarantee mechanisms for the participation of the public in decision-making processes, revisions, re-examinations or updates with respect to projects and activities, and in other processes for granting environmental permits that have or may have a significant impact on the environment, including when they may affect health.
7.3
Each Party shall promote the participation of the public in decision-making processes, revisions, re-examinations or updates other than those referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article with respect to environmental matters of public interest, such as land-use planning, policies, strategies, plans, programmes, rules and regulations, which have or may have a significant impact on the environment.
7.4
Each Party shall adopt measures to ensure that the public can participate in the decision-making process from the early stages, so that due consideration can be given to the observations of the public, thus contributing to the process. To that effect, each Party shall provide the public with the necessary information in a clear, timely and comprehensive manner, to give effect to its right to participate in the decision-making process.
7.5
The public participation procedure will provide for reasonable timeframes that allow sufficient time to inform the public and for its effective participation.
7.6
The public shall be informed, through appropriate means, such as in writing, electronically, orally and by customary methods, and in an effective, comprehensible and timely manner, as a minimum, of the following:
7.6 The public shall be informed, through appropriate means, such as in writing, electronically, orally and by customary methods, and in an effective, comprehensible and timely manner, as a minimum, of the following:
7.6.a
the type or nature of the environmental decision under consideration and, where appropriate, in non-technical language;
7.6 The public shall be informed, through appropriate means, such as in writing, electronically, orally and by customary methods, and in an effective, comprehensible and timely manner, as a minimum, of the following:
7.6.b
the authority responsible for making the decision and other authorities and bodies involved;
7.6 The public shall be informed, through appropriate means, such as in writing, electronically, orally and by customary methods, and in an effective, comprehensible and timely manner, as a minimum, of the following:
7.6.c
the procedure foreseen for the participation of the public, including the date on which the procedure will begin and end, mechanisms for participation and, where applicable, the date and place of any public consultation or hearing; and
7.6 The public shall be informed, through appropriate means, such as in writing, electronically, orally and by customary methods, and in an effective, comprehensible and timely manner, as a minimum, of the following:
7.6.d
the public authorities involved from which additional information on the environmental decision under consideration can be requested and the procedure for requesting information.
7.7
The public’s right to participate in environmental decision-making processes shall include the opportunity to present observations through appropriate means available, according to the circumstances of the process. Before adopting the decision, the relevant public authority shall give due consideration to the outcome of the participation process.
7.8
Each Party shall ensure that, once a decision has been made, the public is informed in a timely manner thereof and of the grounds and reasons underlying the decision, including how the observations of the public have been taken into consideration. The decision and its basis shall be made public and be accessible.
7.9
The dissemination of the decisions resulting from environmental impact assessments and other environmental decision-making processes in which the public has participated shall be carried out through appropriate means, which may include written, electronic or oral means and customary methods, in an effective and prompt manner. The information disseminated shall include the established procedure to allow the public to take the relevant administrative and judicial actions.
7.10
Each Party shall establish conditions that are favourable to public participation in environmental decision-making processes and that are adapted to the social, economic, cultural, geographical and gender characteristics of the public.
7.11
When the primary language of the directly affected public is different to the official languages, the public authority shall ensure that means are provided to facilitate their understanding and participation.
7.12
Each Party shall promote, where appropriate and in accordance with domestic legislation, public participation in international forums and negotiations on environmental matters or with an environmental impact, in accordance with the procedural rules on participation of each forum. The participation of the public at the national level on matters of international environmental forums shall also be promoted, where appropriate.
7.13
Each Party shall encourage the establishment of appropriate spaces for consultation on environmental matters or the use of those that are already in existence in which various groups and sectors are able to participate. Each Party shall promote regard for local knowledge, dialogue and interaction of different views and knowledge, where appropriate.
7.14
The public authorities shall make efforts to identify and support persons or groups in vulnerable situations in order to engage them in an active, timely and effective manner in participation mechanisms. For these purposes, appropriate means and formats will be considered, in order to eliminate barriers to participation.
7.15
In the implementation of the present Agreement, each Party shall guarantee that its domestic legislation and international obligations in relation to the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities are observed.
7.16
The public authority shall make efforts to identify the public directly affected by the projects or activities that have or may have a significant impact on the environment and shall promote specific actions to facilitate their participation.
7.17
With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.a
a description of the area of influence and physical and technical characteristics of the proposed project or activity;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.b
a description of the main environmental impacts of the project or activity and, as appropriate, the cumulative environmental impact;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.c
a description of the measures foreseen with respect to those impacts;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.d
a summary of (a), (b) and (c) of the present paragraph in comprehensible, non-technical language;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.e
the public reports and opinions of the involved entities addressed to the public authority related to the project or activity under consideration;
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.f
a description of the available technologies to be used and alternative locations for executing the project or activity subject to assessment, when the information is available; and
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.g
actions taken to monitor the implementation and results of environmental impact assessment measures.
7.17 With respect to the environmental decision-making processes referred to in paragraph 2 of the present article, as a minimum, the following information shall be made public:
7.17.z
The aforementioned information shall be made available free of charge to the public in accordance with paragraph 17 of article 5 of the present Agreement.
10.2
Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.a
train authorities and civil servants on environmental access rights;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.b
develop and strengthen environmental law and access rights awareness-raising and capacity-building programmes for, inter alia, the public, judicial and administrative officials, national human rights institutions and jurists;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.c
provide the competent institutions and entities with adequate equipment and resources;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.d
promote education and training on, and raise public awareness of, environmental matters, through, inter alia, basic educational modules on access rights for students at all levels of education;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.e
develop specific measures for persons or groups in vulnerable situations, such as providing interpreters or translators in languages other than official languages when necessary;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.f
acknowledge the importance of associations, organizations or groups that train the public on or raise public awareness of access rights;
10.2 Each Party, in line with its capacities, may take, inter alia, the following measures:
10.2.g
strengthen capabilities to collect, retain and evaluate environmental information.
ECHR Protocol
Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
3
The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature.
European Framework Convention on Minorities
Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
15
The Parties shall create the conditions necessary for the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in cultural, social and economic life and in public affairs, in particular those affecting them.
ADRDM
American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man
II
All persons are equal before the law and have the rights and duties established in this Declaration, without distinction as to race, sex, language, creed or any other factor.
XX
Every person having legal capacity is entitled to participate in the government of his country, directly or through his representatives, and to take part in popular elections, which shall be by secret ballot, and shall be honest, periodic and free.
ACHR
American Convention on Human Rights
1.1
The States Parties to this Convention undertake to respect the rights and freedoms recognized herein and to ensure to all persons subject to their jurisdiction the free and full exercise of those rights and freedoms, without any discrimination for reasons of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, economic status, birth, or any other social condition.
23.1
Every citizen shall enjoy the following rights and opportunities:
23.1.a
to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
23.1.b
to vote and to be elected in genuine periodic elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and by secret ballot that guarantees the free expression of the will of the voters;
23.1.c
to have access, under general conditions of equality, to the public service of his country.
ACHPR
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
13.1
Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country, either directly of through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law.
13.2
Every citizen shall have the right of equal access to the public service of his country.
18.3
The State shall ensure the elimination of every discrimination against women and also censure the protection of the rights of the woman and the child as stipulated in international declarations and conventions.
Maputo Protocol
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
2.1
States Parties shall combat all forms of discrimination against women through appropriate legislative, institutional and other measures. In this regard they shall:
2.1.a
include in their national constitutions and other legislative instruments, if not already done, the principle of equality between women and men and ensure its effective application;
2.1.c
integrate a gender perspective in their policy decisions, legislation, development plans, programmes and activities and in all other spheres of life;
2.1.d
take corrective and positive action in those areas where discrimination against women in law and in fact continues to exist;
2.1.e
support the local, national, regional and continental initiatives directed at eradicating all forms of discrimination against women.
9.1
States Parties shall take specific positive action to promote participative governance and the equal participation of women in the political life of their countries through affirmative action, enabling national legislation and other measures to ensure that:
9.1.a
women participate without any discrimination in all elections;
9.1.b
women are represented equally at all levels with men in all electoral processes;
9.1.c
women are equal partners with men at all levels of development and implementation of State policies and development programmes.
9.2
States Parties shall ensure increased and effective representation and participation of women at all levels of decision-making.
17.2
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to enhance the participation of women in the formulation of cultural policies at all levels.
18.2
States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to:
18.2.a
ensure greater participation of women in the planning, management and preservation of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources at all levels;
19
Women shall have the right to fully enjoy their right to sustainable development. In this connection, the States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to:
19.b
ensure participation of women at all levels in the conceptualisation, decision-making, implementation and evaluation of development policies and programmes;
UNCCD
UN Convention to Combat Desertification
3
In order to achieve the objective of this Convention and to implement its provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the following:
3.a
the Parties should ensure that decisions on the design and implementation of programmes to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought are taken with the participation of populations and local communities and that an enabling environment is created at higher levels to facilitate action at national and local levels;
5
In addition to their obligations pursuant to article 4, affected country Parties undertake to:
5.d
promote awareness and facilitate the participation of local populations, particularly women and youth, with the support of nongovernmental organizations, in efforts to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;
10.2
National action programmes shall specify the respective roles of government, local communities and land users and the resources available and needed. They shall, inter alia:
10.2.f
provide for effective participation at the local, national and regional levels of non-governmental organizations and local populations, both women and men, particularly resource users, including farmers and pastoralists and their representative organizations, in policy planning, decision-making, and implementation and review of national action programmes;