A/HRC/30/28 10. Mr. Cárdenas noted that in recent years social policy in Paraguay had changed significantly, moving closer towards a rights-based approach, with the broad participation of people living in poverty and in a state of vulnerability. Institutional strengthening had been identified as key in order to achieve those objectives. That had led to considerable structural change in public institutions, with an increased focus on training civil servants and promoting the participation and empowerment of rights holders. In this framework, the Ministry of Social Action had requested technical assistance from OHCHR to strengthen the technical capacities of civil servants to ensure that a rights-based approach was integrated into public policies. The assistance also included advice on follow-up to international human rights recommendations linked to the issue of poverty, as well as assistance in the development of indicators for economic, social and cultural rights. In this context, 205 government officials had been trained and of these, 29 had become trainers themselves. A capacity-building manual was also being drafted with a view to preparing a training programme for all civil servants and State institutions. The training materials would also be made accessible to vulnerable families participating in the Ministry’s programmes. A specific regional plan for the Department of Kiwasul was being developed as a matter of priority in the Government’s poverty reduction strategy. 11. Mr. Cárdenas expressed appreciation for the assistance received from the United Nations human rights adviser in developing this programme. The Ministry was also putting in place participatory and human rights-based initiatives for indigenous peoples, aimed at promoting access to social services and increasing food security in these communities. A cash-transfer programme was in place to assist people living in extreme poverty and persons with disabilities. Also, a participatory gender programme was geared towards guiding government action to promote equal opportunities for women and men. 12. He said that the online database SIMORE enabled the public to track follow-up by State institutions to the recommendations from the treaty bodies, special procedures and the universal periodic review. The Ministry had also initiated a project to formulate and operationalize indicators for economic, social and cultural rights, disaggregated by gender, geographic location and other key characteristics, to facilitate more targeted policies and interventions. 13. Turning to Mr. Muñoz, Mr. Paulauskas took note of the atlas of socioeconomic inequalities developed by the Government of Ecuador as a major innovation in the realm of social development and inclusion. He asked Mr. Muñoz to explain how that approach had helped the Government reach the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and to share his views on how scarce resources could be best dedicated to have an effective impact on the realization of economic and social rights. 14. Mr. Muñoz said that human rights had to underpin all discussions about development, adding that a requirement to take human rights fully into account in public policy was enshrined in the Ecuadorian Constitution. He pointed out that in the experience of Ecuador, the concept of “living well” was far more important than the mere promotion of economic growth. This notion also had to be given a key role in the development of the post-2015 agenda—a process in which Ecuador was taking an active role. He said that the Constitution of Ecuador provided for a State based on justice and rights. The Government believed that there was no hierarchy of rights and pursued a policy that placed human beings at the centre of progress. All public planning followed a human rights-based approach, including the right to water, food, a healthy environment, communication, science, education, accommodation, health, work and social security. He said that the realization of human rights was also a cross-cutting theme in all government policies, which were designed and implemented in an inclusive and participatory manner, especially with regard to persons with disabilities, minorities and women. 4