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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT 238 Moving from Exclusion to Belonging INTRODUCTION Immigrants in Minnesota reported mixed experiences with community involvement, which includes everything from attending local events and volunteering with community organizations to serving in the government. Immigrant engagement is strongest within their own ethnically based organizations and weakest when it comes to holding decision-making power in government or as leaders of large organizations that serve the broader community. English language classes and volunteering are two highly positive sources of connection to the larger community, but not all immigrants took advantage of those opportunities. One of the primary obstacles to greater immigrant involvement is simply a lack of information about community resources. Additional difficulties arise from different cultural norms or unfamiliarity with the U.S. political and civic systems. In other cases, government and organizations either do not know how to become more inclusive or lack the political will to be more open. In a few cases, active religious discrimination prevents immigrants from fully enjoying their rights. HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION Democracy and representative government depend on participation to ensure sound decision- making, popular support for programs and initiatives, and accountability when rights are violated. Individuals decide whether they want to participate, but everyone must have equal access to the opportunity to participate. Civic involvement can take many forms, many of them protected by human rights. People have the right to participate in government, either directly by holding public office or through representatives chosen in regular elections.1148 This right not only prohibits interference with voting, it also requires the government to take active steps to ensure that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so.1149 Similarly, everyone has the right to participate in the cultural life of the community.1150 This includes both the right to take part in larger society and the right to preserve and enjoy a minority culture, religion, language, or tradition.1151 Immigrants, both permanent and temporary, have a right to their culture and to maintain ties with their country of origin.1152 Religion receives special protection 1148 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Art. 25. 1149 UN Committee on Civil and Political Rights, General Comment No. 25, Participation in Public Affairs and the Right to Vote, ¶¶ 10-12, UN Doc. CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.7 (12 Jul. 1996). 1150 ICCPR Art. 27. 1151 UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 21, Rights of Everyone to Take Part in Cultural Life, ¶ 32, UN Doc. E/C.12/GC/21, (21 Dec. 2009). 1152 UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 21, Rights of Everyone to Take Part in Cultural Life, ¶ 34, UN Doc. E/C.12/GC/21, (21 Dec. 2009).