Expanding the concept of participatory rights

Abstract

There has been a lack of analysis of the relationship between participation and human rights concerning the purpose and content of a right to participation. What analysis exists tends to focus on rights of political participation. However, the concept of participation reflected in political participatory rights is both exclusionary and centered on representative forms of participation. This contradicts the fundamental principles of human rights, which require active, effective and meaningful participation, oriented to inclusion and empowerment. This paper demonstrates that consideration of the totality of participatory rights presents a more comprehensive and appropriate account of the relationship between participation and human rights.