A/HRC/23/49 8. Awareness-raising 64. Awareness-raising programmes in the different sectors is a common feature of measures undertaken by Member States. The question of impact in respect of social transformation, empowerment of women, peer effects and behavioural changes is unclear from the submissions received. Also, it is unclear whether awareness-raising measures take into account and reflect the need for a more sustainable educative process. 9. Political obstacles 65. The challenges of political structures, whether federal systems or decentralization measures, do have an impact on law, policy and programmatic design, on the provision of financial support and service provision, and on responsibility and accountability, among other issues. Fragmentation, lack of coherence and consistency, and the possibility of politicization of issues is a reality in some contexts. This has an impact on State responsibility in the provision of substantive services in an equitable manner to all citizens. 10. Failure to act with due diligence 66. Considering that the mandate’s request for information was on the responsibility of States to act with due diligence to eliminate violence against women – through the promotion of the right to a life free of violence; prevention, protection, investigation and punishment; and the provision of reparations – very little information was provided on the measures in place to address failure of State authorities to act with necessary due diligence in meeting these obligations. The enforcement of standards and sanctioning for noncompliance is a reflection of the acceptance of a State of its responsibility to act with due diligence. The view of victims and civil society organizations is that impunity is the norm, both for non-State perpetrators of violence and for officials who either perpetrate violence and/or fail to protect and prevent violence. 11. Usage and/or value added of international standards and educative interventions, materials and trainings 67. Considering the numerous documents generated through expert group consultations and access to technical cooperation, especially from United Nations and other international agencies on the issue of violence against women, it is a source of concern that there is no information on the usage and/or the value added by the generation of such standard-setting and educative interventions, materials and training. 68. Furthermore, a crucial point of reflection concerns the role of United Nations and other international agencies who are involved in formulating research reports, guidelines and other tools. The questions that come to mind include: What is their role and responsibility in follow-up work once they have generated relevant tools and other materials on standards, norms and best practices? Do these agencies have an obligation to conduct educative work in order to disseminate such materials? Do they have an obligation to monitor and assess the usage of such documents, including conducting research at the national level, to assess whether there are barriers to effective usage of such tools and standards? Do they have a role in conducting research on outcomes, through empirical research projects involving both State and non-State actors? Also, do they have a role in identifying best practices and disseminating such information generally and to Member States in particular? 18