A/HRC/28/30 International Criminal Court. One delegation called upon all States that had not yet acceded to the Rome Statute to do so. Another argued that there was a need to build a framework where human rights violations were transparently exposed and sanctioned without exception. According to one observer, consequences for violations were the only way to ensure that they did not take place in the first place. 49. The delegations and panellists also highlighted other conditions necessary for the effective prevention of human rights violations, such as tackling risk factors, including inequality, poverty, marginalization, lack of awareness and education, and assuring good governance, a democratic system and the rule of law, including a legal system of equal and fair access to justice for all. Some delegations argued that preventive action should concentrate on eradicating poverty, formulating inclusive policies and strengthening education, in quantity as much as in quality. 50. Mr. Zerbini Ribeiro Leão stressed the fact that the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had recognized that a robust legislative framework was indispensable for the preventive action involved in combating discrimination. He argued that measures should be taken to strengthen prevention by protecting social, cultural and economic rights. Mr. Mezmur stressed that unless laws were participatory, took public opinion into account or there were resources for their implementation, they would not be effective. V. Conclusions 51. Participants in the panel discussion agreed that, while there were mechanisms and tools for prevention at the national and international levels, their implementation was patchy and needed to be improved. They acknowledged that the discussions held by the Human Rights Council, the sessions of the universal periodic review, the work of the special procedures and the treaty bodies and the technical assistance provided by OHCHR all advanced the prevention objective. There was general support for the idea to further develop the concept of prevention through evidence-based research. 52. Participants stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights and, by extension, the prevention of human rights violations were the primarily responsibilities of States, while other actors too played an important role in prevention efforts. They acknowledged the important role of civil society, national human rights institutions, researchers and the media in preventing human rights violations by monitoring, advocacy, human rights education and awareness-raising. International and regional systems had an important role in assisting States with domestic implementation. United Nations human rights mechanisms and bodies were essential in helping States to prevent violations. The prevention of human rights violations was at the heart of the United Nations system, and early warnings were critical to successful prevention efforts. Human rights education was also a key factor in prevention. 53. The importance of accountability and action to combat impunity and to implement the rule of law and thus prevent violations, including the importance of criminalization and prosecution and the preventive role of the International Criminal Court, was acknowledged. The other conditions necessary for the effective prevention of human rights violations highlighted by participants included tackling risk factors, including inequality, poverty, marginalization, lack of awareness and education, and providing good governance, a democratic system and the rule of law. 15