A/HRC/31/62 These consultation mechanisms may include institutionalized consultative bodies and other formal mechanisms for direct participation. 67. Many countries have adopted national disability lead agencies and within those, coordinating committees or similar bodies composed of various government representatives, organizations of persons with disabilities and NGOs. States should strengthen these structures, so that they can serve as focal points or coordination mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and thus provide a permanent space for the participation of persons with disabilities. 68. While disability lead agencies can be effective for strengthening the relationship between the State and civil society, they should be complementary to direct consultations and dialogue through other formal mechanisms as their structure usually limits the number and diversity of representative organizations of persons with disabilities. Additional engagement mechanisms may take the form of round tables, participatory dialogues, public hearings or online consultations. 69. As certain groups of persons with disabilities face additional challenges to their participation in public life, they may be inadequately represented by existing representative organizations in a given country. Accordingly, States must not only encourage and support the participation of persons with disabilities from disadvantaged groups in representative organizations of persons with disabilities, but also show flexibility and establish consultative mechanisms to enable the participation of all persons with disabilities. This is particularly important for persons with multiple impairments, persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, autistic persons and deafblind persons. States must devise outreach strategies aimed at ensuring the participation of these groups. The broad inclusion of persons with disabilities throughout the public decision-making process is one of the most effective tools for States to develop truly inclusive and diverse societies. 70. Finally, States must promote the participation of representative organizations of persons with disabilities beyond disability-specific consultative bodies and mechanisms. In many countries, although CSOs are part of different committees or collegiate bodies working on a variety of issues (such as poverty, employment or education), representative organizations of persons with disabilities are rarely invited to participate. As disability is a cross-cutting issue, representative organizations of persons with disabilities should have the same opportunity to participate in these forums as others do. 3. Non-discrimination 71. States must ensure the right to participate in decision-making for all persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. They must therefore commit to guaranteeing this right without discrimination on the basis of disability, and to eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities on the basis of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status. 72. As women and girls with disabilities are at a higher risk of facing multiple forms of discrimination, States must pay special attention to guaranteeing their right to participate actively and directly in all decision-making processes affecting their lives. 73. Whenever needed, States must also provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities in all dialogue and consultation processes. This accommodation should include adequate time frames and the technical assistance necessary to ensure their 17