A/HRC/23/36 d. Setting and enforcing minimum standards for participatory processes, including thresholds for participation of people living in poverty and disadvantaged groups such as women, minorities and persons with disabilities. (ii) Strengthen decentralization of power, responsibilities and resources from central to local governments, with adequate accountability mechanisms. (iii) Promulgate and enforce legislation to prohibit discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of economic and social status. (iv) Create meaningful opportunities for active public participation in budget formulation and monitoring, including by: a. Prioritizing areas of national or local budgets that most affect people living in poverty. b. Requiring the supreme audit institution to maintain mechanisms for public participation in auditing budgets. (v) Incorporate participatory mechanisms in national development plans, including people living in poverty from the start of the planning process. (vi) Respect the right to participation in the implementation of any international assistance and cooperation programme. (vii) Strengthen laws relating to freedoms of association, assembly and speech; media freedom; anti-corruption; access to information; and whistleblower protection. (viii) Strengthen protection of individuals and non-governmental organizations that work with and advocate for those living in poverty; recognizing the right to act collectively; and prevent and punish any reprisal against those who exercise their right to participation. (ix) Regulate the involvement of powerful non-State actors (such as business enterprises) in participatory processes; ensure that they cannot exert undue influence; and provide mechanisms for redress in cases of abuses. (x) Create an independent national council on poverty and social exclusion, including people living in poverty, to represent this group to political decisionmakers. (b) Resources: (i) Allocate sufficient resources to support the participation of people living in poverty in any decision-making process that affects their rights, including earmarked funds to compensate participants for opportunity costs such as travel and to provide on-site childcare. (ii) Improve official capacity to facilitate public participation and access to information, including through adequate staff, equipment and training. (iii) Provide long-term funding for capacity-building in disadvantaged communities, including by granting resources to community-based organizations. (iv) Grant the national human rights institution adequate resources to promote the right to participation and pursue accountability and remedies. 20