A/HRC/31/81 application of human rights. He identified three important areas: to end inequality globally, cognitive injustice and historical injustice. Inequalities should not be ignored, collective rights should not be hampered and the understanding of the concept of human dignity should not be limited. Human rights had to become part of an inclusive dialogue and should not be discussed as part of a monologue of the powerful over the weak, of men over women, of heterosexual over homosexual and of majority over minority. C. 1. Interventions by States and other stakeholders International cooperation, the post-2015 development agenda and the right to development 25. Participants stated that approaching international cooperation from the perspective of the right to development could provide a good framework for the promotion of international cooperation and for a comprehensive response to human rights challenges. The realization of that right, in accordance with the principle of international solidarity, could also reverse existing inequalities. In that connection, the Council should not give undue attention to civil and political rights at the expense of economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to development. Delegates also stated that the Council should take the lead in prioritizing the right to development. They indicated that the mainstreaming of the right to development should be accompanied by structural reforms at the international level and that the discourse on the post-2015 development agenda could greatly contribute to that mainstreaming. 26. The need to adhere to a rights-based approach to international development and the post-2015 development agenda was also emphasized. International cooperation should aim to strengthen the capacities of States to comply with their human rights obligations. States had the primary responsibility for realizing the right to development for their citizens. Delegates also stressed the importance of cooperation of any kind to support the efforts of States to meet their human rights obligations at the national level. They were of the view that the post-2015 development agenda should have human dignity at its heart and that differences of opinions about the right to development should not prevent the international community from achieving the realization thereof. One delegate indicated that accountability and transparency were important in achieving sustainable development and should be taken into account in the process of defining the post-2015 development agenda. Continued dialogue and the inclusion of a broader range of civil society stakeholders were considered to be crucial in ensuring accountability. 2. International cooperation in promoting and protecting women’s rights, gender equality and diversity 27. Delegates underscored that international cooperation could support the mainstreaming of women’s rights and gender equality in all development goals. Although progress had been made, gender inequalities, discrimination and violence against women and girls persisted and remained an obstacle to sustainable development. In that connection, delegates expressed appreciation for the fact that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls had been included as a stand-alone goal in the Open Working Group proposal for Sustainable Development Goals, which served as a basis for the post-2015 development agenda. In order to effectively integrate a gender perspective into the work of the Council, it was proposed that the Council’s discussions should reflect the differing conditions and experiences of men, women, boys and girls around the world. 7