Civic participation is protected by the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs.
The right to participate in the conduct of public affairs is guaranteed by international law. For example, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects the right of every person to participate in the affairs of their country, either directly or by selecting representatives. Similarly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights protects the right to participate in the management of public affairs.
Although the right to public participation can be conceived as a self-standing human right, it has a broad scope and can also manifest itself through several other, more focussed human rights.