A/HRC/39/28 8. It should be stated at the outset that meaningful participation requires a long-term commitment by public authorities, together with their genuine political will, an emphasis on agency and a shift in mindset regarding the way of doing things. To assist States in making this shift, the draft guidelines provide “a set of orientations” for how States should effectively implement the right to participate in public affairs, as requested by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 33/22. In the draft guidelines, it is recognized that civil society actors, including the media, can contribute to States’ efforts to implement the recommendations contained herein. 9. The present draft guidelines refer, when appropriate, to “rights holders”. This term seems more apt than others to include forms of participation, encompassing initiatives that involve all individuals affected or concerned by the decisions at stake. 10. In the draft guidelines, it is stressed that information and communications technologies (ICTs) offer new tools for participation, expanding the space for civic engagement, and have the potential to promote more responsible and accountable governments. ICTs are complementary to traditional forms of participation as they create additional opportunities for equal and meaningful participation. The draft guidelines also recognize that, nevertheless, ICTs could negatively affect participation, for example when disinformation and propaganda are spread through ICTs to mislead a population or to interfere with the right to seek and receive, and to impart, information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. 11. The draft guidelines may contribute to the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in all regions. In fact, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places particular emphasis on the promotion and protection of participation of all members of society in public affairs, in particular with its goal 16, which includes targets to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels (target 16.7) and to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements (target 16.10). Beyond Goal 16, the implementation and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda as a whole rests on the meaningful participation of all actors in society, in particular those most at risk of discrimination and of being left behind. 12. States are encouraged to translate the draft guidelines into local languages, to disseminate them widely, including to local authorities, and to make them available in accessible formats. The recommendations contained in the present draft guidelines should be turned into context-appropriate measures that comply with international human rights norms and standards. 13. Nothing in the draft guidelines should be interpreted as affording a lesser degree of protection to the right to participate in public affairs and other human rights than that provided under existing national laws and regulations and applicable international and regional human rights norms and standards. II. Basic principles underpinning the effective implementation of the right to participate in public affairs 14. The right to participate in public affairs cannot be considered in a vacuum. The effective exercise of this right requires an environment where all human rights, in particular the rights to equality and non-discrimination, to freedom of opinion and expression and to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, are fully respected and enjoyed by all individuals. 15. The right to participate in public affairs is closely linked to the full realization of the right of access to information, which, as part of the right to freedom of expression, is an enabler of participation and a prerequisite that ensures the openness and transparency of, and accountability for, States’ decisions. 16. The right to participate in public affairs requires that the life, physical integrity, liberty, security and privacy of all members of society, including journalists and human rights defenders, be protected at all times. 3