A/HRC/33/25 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 30/9, the Human Rights Council requested that OHCHR organize an expert workshop to discuss the existing guidance on the implementation of the right to participate in public affairs. The workshop was aimed at identifying possible gaps and making recommendations in that regard, and at identifying new developments, trends, and innovations with respect to full, effective and equal participation in political and public affairs. The Council also requested that OHCHR prepare a summary report on the expert workshop, to be presented to the Council at its thirty-third session. The expert workshop was held in Geneva on 18 May 2016. II. Opening statement 2. The Chief of the Human Rights Council Branch of OHCHR, Eric Tistounet, delivered the opening remarks. In his introduction, Mr. Tistounet highlighted the crucial role that participation played in the advancement of all human rights and in empowering individuals and groups. He recalled the close linkages between the right to participate and other rights, such as the right of peaceful assembly, the rights to freedom of association and freedom of opinion and expression, and the rights to education and access to information. 3. He stressed that, despite the recognition in core international human rights treaties of the right to participate, challenges continued to exist regarding the effective enjoyment of that right by all. This held true particularly in relation to the enjoyment of the right on an equal basis by women, indigenous peoples, minorities, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged individuals and groups. Armed conflict, protracted violence, insecurity and structural issues of marginalization and poverty were further contextual factors that added obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to participate in public affairs. However, Mr. Tistounet stressed that information and communications technology (ICT), for example in the form of social media platforms and new horizontal forms of participation, provided opportunities to increase participation. 4. Against that background, Mr. Tistounet introduced the three broad themes around which the expert workshop was organized: (a) the scope and content of the right to participate in public affairs, and related guidance; (b) the challenges in the implementation of the right; and (c) innovations and trends in regard to participation. Given the breadth of the notion of “participation”, he invited participants to reflect on a number of issues. The first of these was whether the concept and the implementation framework of the right to participate in public affairs could usefully benefit from developments in other areas. Secondly, Mr. Tistounet raised the issue of the existing barriers to equal participation, including the reasons behind such obstacles, identified groups that were commonly disenfranchised, and solicited views on steps to be taken to bring about positive changes. Thirdly, he invited speakers and participants to consider whether innovations and technologies had really given effect to the right to participate in public affairs and whether they had really increased participation. 3