A/HRC/13/51 being as an indicator of progress achieved in health and education services, as well as the cultural passport initiative aimed at facilitating access to cultural institutions and programmes for all. The speaker pointed to the need for a new model that would better balance the effects of the market and for a new paradigm on human security with social and cultural dimensions, human rights and sustainable development. In conclusion, Mr. Weber emphasized the importance of solidarity with regard to social security and protection. 31. Following the above presentations, interventions were made by representatives of Kazakhstan, Mexico, South Africa, Viet Nam and the World Citizens Foundation, as well as by Maria Virginia Bras Gomes, member of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Dr. Salomon. 32. The majority of speakers recognized the importance of social protection in reducing poverty and ensuring the enjoyment of human rights by all. Access to education and health care by those without legal status in a country were considered essential elements of social protection. The current economic crisis and resulting fiscal constraints affected social security programmes and donor policies, leading to negative effects on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. There was a need to strengthen social protection programmes and international cooperation to cope with the consequences of the crisis. 33. Speakers highlighted the need to incorporate poverty reduction into national development plans, with a participatory implementation approach. Social policies must take into consideration the different needs of various groups, such as indigenous communities and those living in isolated and rural areas. The lack of an appropriate monitoring and evaluation system for social security programmes and administrative costs involved in the disbursement of social grants were mentioned as being some of the significant areas for improvement of social security systems in some countries. 3. The role of civil society in improving the availability and efficacy of social protection systems 34. The Director of Human Rights of Diakonie Human Rights, Brot für die Welt, Michael Windfuhr, introduced the concept of basic social security based on human rights criteria. Basic social security was defined as the transfer of money and benefits in kind to individuals and households for subsistence that was not based on contributions and did not have to be reimbursed. Basic social security was primarily required to help people survive and reduce extreme poverty in developing and least developed countries, or to protect people against life-threatening risks and social exclusion in developed countries. Mr. Windfuhr underlined the fact that a human rights-based approach to basic social security must include accountability mechanisms, and States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights. Touching upon the issue of conditionality attached to social grants, he stressed that conditions might increase efficiency and legitimacy, although they could pose challenges when beneficiaries were excluded upon non-fulfilment of the conditions. As such, conditions, when imposed, must be reasonable, realistic, objective and verifiable. 35. A field worker in Social Protection Programmes of ATD Quart Monde (Madagascar), Lalao Harivelo Henri Rambelo, presented examples of programmes supported in communities in extreme poverty. Emphasizing that a human rights-based approach to social security should be focused on the most vulnerable, he affirmed that individuals living in extreme poverty should also play a key role in contributing to and volunteering in initiatives led by civil society to combat extreme poverty. For that reason, ATD Quart Monde adopted a participatory approach and had engaged with local communities and built partnerships to create inclusive and responsive programmes that empowered these populations to rise from extreme poverty. It was emphasized, however, that while civil society should be supported for its ability to respond more rapidly to shortterm exigencies than States, it should not be seen as a replacement for the role that States 8 GE.09-17229