A/HRC/23/36 available in a manner accessible to the poorest and most disadvantaged, taking into account the constraints they suffer, including illiteracy and language barriers. It should be free of charge, relevant, up-to-date, understandable, free of technical language or jargon, and in local languages. Outreach and dissemination should be undertaken according to the local context and through channels that reach the poorest, for example, in non-written form, radio announcements or community theatre. 62. Organizers should hold preparatory meetings well in advance to agree on the parameters, goals, purposes and scope, with the involvement of the potential participants. Acceptable forms of facilitation, chairing and leadership should also be agreed with participants in advance.29 The level and nature of involvement on offer must be clarified to potential participants, as well as the roles and responsibilities of facilitators, policymakers, participants and other stakeholders. 63. When participants meet for the first time, the purposes and scope of the process should be made clear and agreed; this includes setting realistic expectations and clarifying any limitations. Participants must know why they have been asked to participate and how their opinions will be used, and should clearly understand what degree of influence they can expect to have on the final outcome. Similarly, the other considerations and actors that are feeding into the process must be revealed. There must be a mechanism and/or procedures in place by which participants can easily request and access additional information that they feel they need. 64. Once the decision-making body has taken its decision, it should promptly notify participants and the public; both the text of the decision and the justifications for it must be made public, in media accessible to people living in poverty. In addition, reports of the process and meetings held should be made available in all relevant languages and in an accessible manner, while respecting confidentiality. D. Accountability 65. Accountability is a critical feature of a human rights approach to participation. Participation understood as a right implies rights holders and duty bearers who can and must be held to account for failure to respect, protect and fulfil that right. To this end, people need access to procedures and institutions that provide redress and remedy, and mechanisms to ensure that their Government fulfils the right of access to information and the right to participation.30 66. Organizers should ensure that there are effective complaint mechanisms in place in advance of the process starting. Responsibilities and the relevant chain of accountability for decision-making and the process itself should be made clear from the outset, and participants should be made aware of their rights and responsibilities. Participants must periodically evaluate the process, with indicators derived from their priorities. Where appropriate, independent advisers should monitor the process. 67. At the end of the process, a final assessment of what has been agreed and what has not should be presented, to be discussed and agreed with participants, 31 as well as information on next steps in the decision-making process and those responsible. The 29 30 31 Beresford and Hoban, Participation in Anti-poverty and Regeneration Work and Research, p. 27. Foti et al, Voice and Choice, p. 9. R. McGee and A. Norton, Participation in Poverty Reduction Strategies: A Synthesis of Experience with Participatory Approaches to Policy Design, Implementation and Monitoring, IDS Working Paper No. 109, 2000, p. 70. 15