A/HRC/23/36 18. Participation has been associated with a range of positive effects in development cooperation, humanitarian aid and poverty reduction programmes, such as better assessment of needs and capacities, and improvements in implementation and sustainability. However, the degree of positive impact that participation can have on poverty reduction is debated, and depends on what type of participation is being studied and in what arena. Nevertheless, evidence shows that in many cases participatory processes have shown positive outcomes in terms of tackling poverty and social exclusion, particularly in building organization and capacity, strengthening social cohesion and democratic governance and creating better development outcomes (such as improved services).7 Participation in processes like budget formulation or service monitoring has brought tangible benefits to persons living in poverty in specific cases. However, participation on its own is not a silver bullet for poverty reduction, and must be combined with other inputs such as improvements in public services, education and accountability mechanisms to achieve this end.8 19. Moreover, as participation is not merely a means to an end (e.g. poverty reduction) but rather a fundamental human right and valuable in and of itself, the most important outcomes – such as exercising self-determination, rights consciousness, assertiveness and empowerment, increased capacity and social capital – may be intangible or difficult to measure. While acknowledging the instrumental benefits participation may have, this report focuses on participation as an inherent right that aims to empower those living in poverty, and seeks to identify the conduct and actions that States must undertake to respect, protect and promote this right for people living in poverty. 20. This report focuses on the intrinsic value of participation as a fundamental right to which individuals are inherently entitled by virtue of their humanity. This right to take part and exert influence in decision-making processes that affect one’s life is inextricably linked to the most fundamental understanding of being human and the purpose of rights: respect of dignity and the exercise of agency, autonomy and self-determination. The right to participation imposes concrete obligations on States voluntarily assumed in several binding human rights instruments.9 21. Participation, when undertaken with a rights foundation, provides an opportunity for people living in poverty to be active agents in their own destiny; thus, it is fundamentally important to reclaiming dignity. Testimony from people living in poverty confirms that meaningful and effective participation can have important effects: building self-respect and gaining the respect of others; creating a sense of belonging; becoming part of a network where they can recount their experience and feel they are listened to and supported by others; regaining self-confidence and developing a plan for the future; being recognized as a human being.10 22. The right to participation is strongly linked with empowerment, which is a key human rights goal and principle. Effective participation can build capacity and rights awareness. It allows those living in poverty to see themselves as full members of society and autonomous agents rather than subjects of decisions taken by others who see them as objects of assistance or mere statistics. As stated by a Peruvian activist, “[f]or us, 7 8 9 10 6 J. Gaventa and G. Barrett, So What Difference Does it Make? Mapping the Outcomes of Citizen Engagement, Institute of Development Studies Working Paper No. 347, 2010. G. Mansuri and V. Rao , Localizing Development: Does Participation Work?, World Bank, 2012, p. 8. See section IV below. Based on the experience of people living in poverty, expressed at the International Movement ATD Fourth World meeting in Pierrelaye, France, January 2013.