Electoral participation and protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity : note / by the Secretary-General

Table of Contents

• Seventy-ninth session Promotion and protection of human rights human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives 1
• Electoral participation and protection against violence and 1
• Note by the Secretary-General 1
• Report of the Independent Expert on protection against 2
• I. Introduction 3
• II. 4
• III. Key constraints on electoral participation 6
• IV. Suffrage rights 8
• A. Right to vote 8
• B. Right to stand for election 10
• V. Election administration 12
• VI. Election campaign framework 13
• VII. Politicized homophobia in election campaigns 14
• VIII. Conduct of campaign 17
• IX. Campaign finance 19
• A. Media 20
• B. Social media and online campaigning 20
• X. International and citizen observation civil society 22
• XI. Conclusion 23
• XII. Recommendations 23
• The Independent Expert recommends that States 23
• Increase efforts to collect data on barriers to participation for diverse 23
• LGBT persons as voters candidates election officials and election observers in ways that are respectful of context and the risks posed during volatile election years 23
• Document bias-motivated crimes related to real or perceived sexual 24
• Include in the legal framework protections against hate crimes based 24
• Combat impunity through the proactive prompt and efficient 24
• Develop and pursue communication strategies to highlight the 24
• Develop and pursue communication strategies to highlight the 24
• Develop both civil society- and Government-led civic and voter 24
• Repeal laws against consensual same-sex conduct and review 24
• Adopt laws to guarantee legal recognition of gender identity on the 24
• Develop guidelines and procedures for election day that promote the 24
• Consider temporary special measures from the perspective of their 24
• Support long-term capacity-building efforts within election 24
• Support the capacity-building of civil society organizations focused on 24
• LGBT rights in election observation and advocacy 24
• Support the capacity-building of non-partisan citizen observer groups 24
• Support the capacity-building of international election observers on 24
• LGBT rights issues 24
• Develop supporting measures to assist LGBT candidates in registering 24
• Promote the development and refinement of social media company 24
• Develop technical guidelines for international election observers on 25
• Integrate the participation of LGBT persons as a key component of 25