A/HRC/33/25 representative organizations, led and controlled by persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur noted that policies directly affecting persons with disabilities were not simply disability policies but policies affecting all human beings. Therefore, States should ensure accessibility, non-discrimination, awareness-raising and good faith, in implementing their obligations. While the Internet had allowed for more participation, it needed to be accessible. Physical accessibility to places of consultation was another challenge, and there needed to be special outreach efforts to ensure the participation of persons in need of extensive support. In conclusion, the Special Rapporteur emphasized that any guidance on the right to participate in public affairs should be inclusive of persons with disabilities, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 21. Dana Sofi, a representative of the Reform Institute for Development, developed further the issue of challenges to the right to participate, from the perspective of minorities and other disadvantaged groups in Iraq. He noted that the right to participate was embedded in national legislation, that in 2015 a compact on partnership and development had been developed between the government, the parliament and NGOs in Kurdistan, and that such a compact was unique in the Middle East and North Africa region. In order to build a democratic society, the involvement of NGOs and of all members of society was crucial. Despite legal endorsement of the right to participation, implementation remained a challenge, due to the operations of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, the economic crisis and other issues. By way of example, Mr. Sofi referred to the lack of awareness of rights, including of the right to participate, which led to the systematic exclusion of poorly educated people. 22. Other challenges related to diverse administrative restrictions, including security procedures, bureaucratic requirements, or late notification from the authorities for the holding of consultations. Yet another challenge to the exercise of the right to participate was the lack of regulations to implement the right in practice. Mr. Sofi also referred to the existing selective approaches to participation, noting that only civil society associated with the government and political parties was able to participate. He noted that out of all the NGOs registered in Kurdistan, only 1 per cent represented minorities, which demonstrated their systematic exclusion. In the parliament there was a quota system for minorities, but in practice those with a connection to political parties were elected to represent minorities. Mr. Sofi identified the underdeveloped communications system as being a challenge to participation in Iraq. In particular, he noted the lack of connection via modern technologies between the new generation and politicians and political institutions. Although the use of technology could be a good solution for the inclusion of new generations, Mr. Sofi concluded that, in the context of Iraq, public participation was at present mostly restricted to elites. 23. Alicia del Águila, a journalist and country expert with the Varieties of Democracy Project (V-Dem), discussed challenges to the right to participate from a gender and intercultural perspective. She emphasized that gender discrimination cut across many different aspects of life. She drew attention to the problem of “collective expectations”, in particular the public expectation for leaders to be men rather than women, and the assumption that women were never going to be the first option for leadership positions. She noted that men “did” politics, whereas women were simply “associated with” politics. Ms. del Águila gave an example of how such stereotypes were carried forward and sustained, through campaigns, among the public, and in the media and academic discourse. To address this situation, she highlighted the importance of affirmative action measures, such as the introduction of quotas. She also noted that other types of communication should be mobilized, particularly where the attitudes and opinions of young people were concerned. Internet initiatives such as blogs (e.g. www.allmalepanels.tumblr.com) could help raise awareness and lead to greater diversity in discussions of public affairs and in different professional spheres. 9