A/HRC/31/62 harmonize or coordinate their activities, when the real intention is, in most cases, to silence dissident opinions and turn such organizations into governmental appendages. However, representative organizations of persons with disabilities are not part of the public sector and cannot be subjected to regulation and control, unless it is prescribed by law and is necessary to protect a legitimate interest in a democratic society. 34 States must also ensure that members of representative organizations of persons with disabilities have unfettered access to an independent and impartial judicial body to resolve any internal disputes. 46. Finally, States must ensure that representative organizations of persons with disabilities can freely engage with national and international human rights monitoring mechanisms, including the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, other treaty bodies, the universal periodic review, and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. 4. Capacity-building 47. Capacity-building is another key component for the effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities. Advocacy is more likely to be successful when organizations work strategically, have a clear understanding of policy processes and invest in people skills. The empowerment of persons with disabilities involves the development of technical, administrative and communication skills, as well as the facilitation of access to information and tools concerning their rights, legislation and policymaking. Implementation of the many innovations in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires a strong and independent disability movement, one that can adequately respond to the demands of participation on all matters relevant to the movement. 48. Structural challenges are a major obstacle to the participation of persons with disabilities in public decision-making. As education systems often fail to adequately include persons with disabilities, their opportunities and capacities to become successfully involved in public decision-making are limited. This also affects the institutional capacities of their representative organizations. The lack of social protection systems for securing sufficient income and employment opportunities also affects the capacity of persons with disabilities to devote time and effort to civil society. 49. Pursuant to their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, States should strengthen the capacity of representative organizations of persons with disabilities to participate in policymaking, by providing capacity-building and training on a rights-based approach to disability. States should also build the competencies, knowledge and skills required by representative organizations to advocate for their full and effective participation in society (e.g. on topics such as strategic planning, communication, information disclosure, stakeholder consultations, networking, advocacy and independent monitoring mechanisms). 50. While respecting the autonomy of such organizations, States should support them in developing stronger democratic governance principles (such as respect for human rights, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, pluralism and participation) and in strengthening their accountability, and should provide guidance on how to access funding and diversify their sources of support. 5. Funding 51. The ability of representative organizations of persons with disabilities to access funding and resources is an integral and vital part of the right to freedom of association and 34 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 22 (2). 13