Facts and Norms Institute Cited Multiple Times in UN Report on Social Participation

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Michelle Bachelet.

GENEVA, February 3, 2022 – The Facts and Norms Institute (FNI) has been recognized as a key contributor to the newly released report by the United Nations. The document, authored by the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, expressly cites FNI’s research and input on multiple occasions, positioning the Institute’s contributions alongside those of major global powers.

A Work of Global Consequence

The UN report, titled "Good practices and challenges faced by States in using the guidelines on the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs" (A/HRC/49/42), was issued yesterday by the office of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (and former President of Chile).

The involvement of High Commissioner Bachelet adds significant weight to the findings. As a former Head of State and a leading figure in global diplomacy, Ms. Bachelet’s adoption of FNI’s data signals a high-level validation of the Institute’s research quality. The report aggregates inputs from 13 States—including the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and Ecuador—and a select group of civil society organizations.

Throughout the document, High Commissioner Bachelet’s office relies on FNI’s input to highlight critical themes in global human rights.

Key Citations

The OHCHR report draws upon FNI’s input, authored by Dr. Henrique Napoleão Alves, to substantiate findings in three distinct areas of the global assessment:

1. Exclusion of Marginalized Groups: In paragraph 51, the UN addresses the systemic barriers facing vulnerable populations. The report expressly cites FNI (Footnote 110) regarding the exclusion of individuals in marginalized situations from consultations on public policies, including decisions that directly affect them.

   
   

2. LGBTI Political Participation: In paragraph 24, the UN report addresses the dichotomy faced by the LGBTI community. Citing FNI (Footnote 43), the report notes that while concerns regarding high rates of violence persist, there has been a notable increase in political participation, evidenced by the high number of LGBTI candidates in Brazil’s 2018 elections.

   
   

3. Infrastructure and Resource Barriers: In paragraph 56, the report analyzes the lack of resources as a barrier to implementation. FNI is cited (Footnote 120) for highlighting how the lack of infrastructure, technology, and connectivity hinders the right to participate in public affairs.

   
   

A Voice Alongside Nations

The inclusion of FNI’s input highlights the Institute’s growing credibility in international legal circles. In the final text, FNI is referenced with the same weight as submissions from national governments. For example, in the section on electoral participation, FNI’s insights on Brazil appear in the same context as inputs from the Russian Federation and Iraq, demonstrating the Institute’s capacity to provide high-level analysis that informs United Nations policy monitoring.

The Facts and Norms Institute’s submission focused on the retraction of institutions vital for social participation in Brazil, drawing on data from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to inform the UN's global guidelines.

The full UN report (A/HRC/49/42) is available via the United Nations General Assembly digital library.