Integrating Human Rights in the Anti-Corruption Agenda - The ICHRP

Notwithstanding these points, it should be stressed that formal requirements
are not sufficient. Taking into account the principles of equality and nondiscrimination
implies that all measures should be taken to ensure that groups
who are exposed to particular risks (of exclusion, discrimination or other forms
of oppression) are included. Table 1 provides some indicators for inclusion.
Table 1. Breadth of Participation
(Minimum) Institutional
Legal Conditions of
Inclusion
Provide time to act
Make the relevant
information available
Indicators
Affected groups and the public must be notified in
advance, giving them enough time to organise their
response. For example, interested groups could
be informed through radio announcements and
community bulletin boards two weeks before the
meeting and subsequently follow-up reminders could
be circulated through the same channels 5–7 days
before the event.
Affected groups and the public must be able to obtain
information about the decision and the participatory
process. This information must be:
relevant (include the key issues for discussion and
avoid unnecessary, trivial or secondary data);
up-to-date;
understandable (avoid jargon and specialist
language).
Facilitate participation
where required
(adaptability, acceptability
and accessibility)
Adapted from Gruenberg, 2009.
Authorities must take positive steps to assist groups
and the public to overcome economic, linguistic,
cultural, educational or geographical obstacles that
would prevent or inhibit their full participation.
Depth of Participation
Depth of participation is measured in terms of the influence that interested
parties can exert on decisions and the allocation of public resources. Superficial
participation processes will aim merely to gather or exchange information,
in order to assess opinion, identify interests and possibly take advantage of
local expertise. They do not necessarily require decision-makers to respond to
demands made or to respect majority opinion. At the other end of the spectrum
are processes that allow participants to directly control the outcomes or
decisions in question.
Integrating Human Rights in the Anti-Corruption Agenda: Challenges, Possibilities and Opportunities