A/HRC/41/21 supporting implementation of the 2016 National Youth Policy. The policy gives specific attention to youth with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex youth and works to increase access to education, health services and employment, as well as to tackle discrimination and violence. C. Participation and setting the stage for enhanced accountability on results 32. In the 2030 Agenda, and particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16, Member States committed to ensuring “responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels”.13 They further committed to “open, inclusive, participatory and transparent” follow-up and review processes for the Sustainable Development Goals.14 Participation in public affairs and decision-making is also a key human rights principle, vital to the achievement of the Goals. Unless communities living in vulnerable situations can effectively participate in and contribute to policymaking, they will continue being left behind. Formal and informal mechanisms are needed, as well as the creation of an enabling environment that guarantees people’s rights to assembly and freedom of expression, among other rights. 33. In March 2019, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission launched a national inquiry on the role of women in peace and security in Afghanistan. In partnership with civil society, public hearings were organized in Kabul, Bamyan, Herat, Helmand and Kandahar Provinces. Meanwhile, the Government introduced a new draft plan for the implementation of the second phase of National Action Plan 1325, from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022. Also, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan facilitated 39 civil society-led round-table discussions and seminars to promote civil society space and inclusive engagement in peace processes. 34. In Azerbaijan, the secretariat of the National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development, and the United Nations country team, facilitated a joint workshop with civil society in 2018 on Sustainable Development Goals localization and prioritization. It focused on prioritizing Goals, targets and indicators and on the adaptation of these to national contexts in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals acceleration platforms,15 the Baku principles, and voluntary national review priorities documents. The workshop outcomes contributed to the preparation of the 2019 voluntary national review of Azerbaijan and to the development of the Azerbaijan 2020: Vision of the Future development concept. 35. A number of initiatives have been taken in Africa, often with OHCHR support. In South Sudan for instance, the Human Rights Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, together with UNDP, has supported the technical committee in charge of establishing the truth-seeking body in its role of carrying out broad and effective consultations with all sectors of society as a basis for draft legislation to create the Commission on Truth, Reconciliation and Healing. Such broad participation in the design of transitional justice institutions is a well-established international best practice for achieving ownership and crucial collaboration from all sectors of society. 36. In Senegal, with support from OHCHR, the Department of Human Rights (Ministry of Justice) established a coalition of human rights groups known as the Platform for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights to ensure, between civil society organizations and the Government, greater coordination and sharing of information about various human rights initiatives taking place. 37. Following the approval on 18 April 2018 by the Government of Guinea of the law for the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, OHCHR, in close 13 14 15 8 Target 16.7. 2030 Agenda, para. 74 (d). The Sustainable Development Goals Accelerator identifies and supports high-impact innovations and start-ups that can radically transform businesses and industries. See http://sdgaccelerator.org/.