A/HRC/39/51 B. Participatory processes 65. Furthermore, ensuring inclusive and participatory processes is of utmost importance from the perspective of the right to development. Once those who have been left behind are identified, efforts need to be geared toward systematically reaching and empowering them. Evaluating how this can best be accomplished is a critical first step in the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The success of targeted policies and programmes will depend largely on the level of participation and consultation of the beneficiaries. 66. Since the right to development entitles all persons and peoples to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, a key task is to ensure inclusiveness and meaningful participation of relevant stakeholders at all levels of decision-making. Enabling disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups to actively participate in decision-making processes is essential to overcome structural inequalities and discrimination; to ensure their place as key actors in the development of countries; and to ensure the equal sharing of benefits. States, as the ultimate bearers of responsibility for reducing inequalities, must ensure that participatory approaches, reaching all concerned segments of the society, are developed and adequately financed. The cost of civil society participation should be duly budgeted into development planning processes at both policy and programmatic levels. States should also work to increase the capacity of civil society to develop technical expertise and provide space for coordinated actions with Governments. States must also establish mechanisms for easy and effective access to up-to-date information related to development policies and processes, define reliable information schemes while designing development plans, and allocate adequate resources to that end. 67. Ensuring that no one is left behind requires a dedicated focus on the equal rights of women and on ensuring women’s participation in decision-making. States must take action to provide genuine opportunities and strengthen capacity of women to actively and meaningfully participate in national planning, policy design, implementation and budgeting, which affect their livelihoods and wellbeing. Participation of women without discrimination of any kind in economic and political decision-making and policy formulation so as to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment is indispensable for the effectiveness of all development processes. C. Accountability mechanisms 68. While the right to development is only justiciable in the context of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, for participation to be genuine and effective, it should be accompanied by adequate accountability mechanisms. Effective legal mechanisms to defend equality can go a long way towards protecting and promoting the right to development as well. During the regional consultations, held by the Special Rapporteur, it was highlighted that effective access to information is an important prerequisite in this respect. To this end, detailed information/consultation schemes should be integrated in all development policies and activities at the international and domestic levels. Such schemes should ensure that affected individuals and communities understand how they can claim their rights when the latter have been violated in the context of development processes. National accountability mechanisms, such as anti-discrimination complaints mechanisms, should have the capacity to process and provide effective remedies for violations. Existing mechanisms must be made more visible and accessible, including to persons speaking minority languages and persons with disabilities. National human rights institutions can also play a role in ensuring equal participation in economic, social, cultural and political development by, for example, taking up social and economic rights issues and discrimination complaints. 19