A/HRC/27/29 General Assembly Distr.: General 30 June 2014 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-seventh session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Factors that impede equal political participation and steps to overcome those challenges Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights* Summary This study examines the human rights framework relating to participation in political and public affairs. Discrimination against women, indigenous peoples, minorities, persons with disabilities, human rights defenders and other marginalized groups may prevent the full, effective and equal enjoyment of the rights to participate in political and public affairs. The study identifies some of the major barriers to equal participation and makes recommendations concerning measures that could be taken to overcome these challenges. * The footnotes to the present report are circulated as received, in the language of submission only. GE.14-06952 (E) *1406952*