A/HRC/31/28 instrumental in building good governance. If good governance and public service ignored gender inequalities, they would not ensure genuine citizen participation and key principles of accountability, non-discrimination, equality, transparency and access to information and enforceability of rights. 20. Mr. Pastwa focused on the potential and limits of law in respect of good governance in public administration. He indicated that legislation was a sine qua non, but was insufficient by itself to ensure the realization and pursuit of human rights by a State’s public administration. The concept of a human rights-based approach to good governance presented an opportunity to effect real change. Reference was made to the 21 Gdansk demands formulated in August 1980 by the Gdansk Shipyard workers, seeking equal rights to access public office for all members of the public and citizens, and demanding that an open and accessible Government lead the country in order to effect change in citizens’ lives. Awareness and positive attitudes among public officials were critical factors, without which legislation alone would not suffice. Human rights served as a good basis for changing the mindsets of public officials from a “cold professionalism approach” of just managing problems to a “hot professionalism approach” focused on caring for people and understanding and meeting their aspirations. B. Interactive discussion 21. During the panel discussion with two rounds of questions and answers, representatives of the following States and organizations took the floor: Algeria (also on behalf of the African Group), Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Ghana, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Montenegro, Morocco (also on behalf of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie), Namibia, Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Poland (on behalf of the core group of sponsors of Human Rights Council resolution 25/8), Qatar, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, the United States of America, and the European Union. Representatives of the following NGOs also took the floor: Africa Speaks, Agence pour les Droits de l’Homme, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, Arab Commission for Human Rights, Global Network for Rights and Development, NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Institut International pour la Paix, la Justice et les Droits de l’Homme. 22. Speakers highlighted the links between good governance and human rights, and underlined the importance of good governance being strengthened at all levels, including within international organizations. Many delegates presented and shared their domestic efforts and best practices aimed at improving governance and public services, including reform of their judiciary and administrative sectors, ensuring transparency and strengthening the participation of citizens in decision-making processes, inclusion of human rights in school curricula and in police and judicial training programmes, e-governance initiatives, investment in services like health care, education and housing, as well as efforts to combat corruption. Professional, accountable and transparent public services upholding the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity constituted one of the essential components of good governance. Good governance principles and standards in public services served as a preventive mechanism against numerous forms of corruption. Delegates pointed to groups with limited access to public services, including children, elderly, persons with disabilities, minorities and, in some cases, women, who needed special attention, with a view to ensuring that their human rights were not undermined. 23. The principles of impartiality, rule of law and combating corruption were highlighted as essential to achieving good governance, as well as to building human capital 6