Civic participation is the participation of citizens, groups, and non-governmental organisations in addressing issues of public concern through different means. It can be both directly and indirectly linked to decision-making, and is not limited to any particular kind of participation.
Civic participation is closely intertwined with democracy and human rights. Continuous input is required from the public for a democracy to develop. Such input must also be in harmony with human rights standards governing the role of the individual in the civic space. It is for this reason that civic participation and the manner in which it is implemented is becoming increasingly more important over time.
About this section
This section of the Guide will explain what civic participation is, the human rights which protect the right to civic participation and how they may be restricted.