Electoral year 2024: UN experts call for strengthening democracy and reversing global erosion of human rights

GENEVA (30 April 2024) – UN experts* urged today authorities in dozens of countries holding elections this year to uphold and protect the rights to vote and to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. They said these rights are threatened by democratic regression, the rise of authoritarianism worldwide and shrinking civic spaces. The experts issued the following statement:

“As citizens from 64 countries around the globe are casting their ballots this year, States must ensure free and fair elections, fully respecting and upholding their human rights obligations throughout the electoral process.

Creating a safe and enabling environment for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association is essential for fostering participation and ensuring inclusive and credible elections with results reflecting the will of the people.

We are deeply troubled by the increasing erosion of these rights across the globe. Elections in many jurisdictions have been marred by violence and arbitrary arrests, targeting opposition candidates and political leaders, as well as human rights defenders, journalists, media workers and election observers.

The adoption and enforcement of restrictive laws in the guise of national security measures, such as foreign agents and foreign influence legislation, further undermine civil society's work in the context of elections and lead to stigmatising those working to promote democracy and human rights.

The proliferation of populism, misinformation, and disinformation poses further threats to the integrity of elections. Hate speech and negative discourse targeting marginalised and discriminated-against groups, including LGBTQI+ people, migrants and ethnic and religious minorities, have been weaponised for political gain, further polarising societies.

Social media platforms have also been exploited to undermine fair elections and propagate anti-rights narratives, primarily facilitated through the misuse of algorithms and content moderation. Internet shutdowns and network disruptions further impede access to information and the organisation of peaceful protests, hindering the democratic process.

Addressing these challenges and reversing the negative trend of global erosion of human rights requires concerted efforts from everyone.

We urge States to guarantee and facilitate an unobstructed exercise of the rights to participate in public affairs, and to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association before, during and after elections, and ensure the safety of civil society actors, including journalists and election monitors.

Political parties, the private sector, media outlets and social media companies must also participate in fostering a safe and inclusive environment for credible elections and work towards strengthening democracy and human rights in this critical election year.”