The Governance of eParticipation: Towards a Rights-based Approach

The way in which e-participation is governed is critical for ensuring inclusive outcomes. This paper presents a comparative analysis of policy, legislation and practice related to e-participation globally, and with a specific emphasis on South Africa. Our analysis reveals three distinctive features of the current e-participation governance landscape, all of which are broadly centred on a rights-based approach. Firstly, e-participation is a complement to in-person participation and should be targeted at the inclusion of people that are not normally involved in decision-making. Second, e-participation should be embedded within a wider digital rights framework which recognises possible inequities and harms resulting from the use of technology. Finally, public officials need to develop capabilities and processes for engaging with civic-led policy deliberations that take place outside of their direct control.