A/HRC/27/29 Freedoms contains a number of provisions that relate to the rights to participate in public and political affairs. Article 8 (2) of the Declaration provides that “[t]his includes, inter alia, the right, individually and in association with others, to submit to governmental bodies and agencies and organizations concerned with public affairs criticism and proposals for improving their functioning and to draw attention to any aspect of their work that may hinder or impede the promotion, protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. 84. The international human rights mechanisms have drawn attention to the key role played by human rights defenders and civil society organizations in the promotion and protection of all human rights, including the rights to political and public participation.52 In many contexts, however, human rights defenders and civil society organizations have been subjected to forms of discrimination such as onerous administrative requirements, criminalization of their activities, stigmatization, harassment and other forms of violent reprisals, which leave them unable to freely exercise their rights to contribute to public debate on issues of concern.53 85. Discrimination, unequal treatment, harassment and restrictions of the rights to public and political participation are often directed against human rights defenders and civil society organizations advocating for the rights of marginalized groups.54 Those most at risk include people and organizations engaged in defending the rights of persons with disabilities, youth and children, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, members of minority groups, indigenous peoples, internally displaced persons, and non-nationals such as refugees, asylum seekers and migrant workers (A/HRC/26/29, paras. 10–11). 86. Women human rights defenders are subject to the same types of risks as other human rights defenders but, as women, they are also targeted for or exposed to genderspecific threats and gender-specific violence. When women human rights defenders engage to promote women’s political participation, they are seen as challenging traditional notions of gender roles and, as a result, they can be stigmatized and subjected to discrimination and violence. 87. Several of the United Nations human rights mechanisms have examined the rights of civil society organizations and human rights defenders to participate, without any discrimination, in the conduct of public and political affairs. Effective participation includes the right of civil society actors to have their views incorporated within legislative and policymaking processes and to freely voice criticism or to submit proposals to improve the functioning of public authorities.55 52 53 54 55 . 18 Human Rights Council, Interactive discussion on protecting civil society space to guarantee human rights, March 2014. Commentary to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (see footnote 20 above); and A/HRC/13/22. Ibid. See Commentary to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (footnote 20 above); and A/HRC/16/44/Add.2, para. 106.