A/HRC/28/35 minimum core content of the rights to social security and health, and — through guaranteeing basic security income — to other economic and social rights such as the rights to food, housing and water. C. Principles of transparency, participation and accountability 24. In its general comment No. 19, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has recommended that transparency be integral to national social security programmes and plans of action, and that the beneficiaries participate in the administration of social protection programmes.20 Similarly, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights noted that transparency must be a fundamental element of all aspects of social protection programmes, including selection methods, eligibility criteria, benefits level, and complaints and redress mechanisms. 21 Further, the Special Rapporteur has noted that civil society should participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of social protection programmes.22 25. Under international human rights law, access to information is a right in itself and a prerequisite to ensuring participation in public affairs and accountability.23 Consequently, human rights bodies have noted that social security systems must ensure respect for the right of individuals and organizations to seek, receive and impart information on all social security entitlements in a clear and transparent manner.24 26. ILO Recommendation 202 explicitly refers to transparent, accountable and sound financial management and administration (para. 3 (j)) and denotes a number of important elements in that regard. For example, when formulating and implementing national social security strategies, States should raise awareness about the strategies and put in place information programmes (para. 14 (f)). ILO Recommendation 202 also specifies that national social security strategies should be formulated and implemented on the basis of national consultations through effective social dialogue and participation (para. 13). Other ILO instruments also stress the importance of participation. 25 20 21 22 23 24 25 8 minimum essential food which is nutritionally adequate and safe, to ensure freedom from hunger to everyone; (c) to ensure access to basic shelter, housing and sanitation, and an adequate supply of safe and potable water; (d) to provide essential drugs, as from time to time defined under the WHO Action Programme on Essential Drugs; (e) to ensure equitable distribution of all health facilities, goods and services; (f) to adopt and implement a national public health strategy and plan of action, on the basis of epidemiological evidence, addressing the health concerns of the whole population; the strategy and plan of action shall be devised, and periodically reviewed, on the basis of a participatory and transparent process; they shall include methods, such as right to health indicators and benchmarks, by which progress can be closely monitored; the process by which the strategy and plan of action are devised, as well as their content, shall give particular attention to all vulnerable or marginalized groups.” See general comment No.19, paras. 70 and 26. The Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has assessed the practical implications of those principles in several reports, which clarify the technical requirements with which social protection systems should comply. See, e.g., A/65/259, paras. 88–93. See, e.g., reports of the Special Rapporteur on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, A/HRC/11/9, pp. 7–9; A/64/279, pp. 14–18; A/HRC/14/31, pp. 11–19; and A/HRC/17/34, pp. 6–12. See, for example, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 19; African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, art. 9; American Convention on Human Rights, art. 13; and European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, art. 10. General comment No. 19, para. 26. See also A/HRC/11/9, pp. 8–17; and A/HRC/14/31 pp. 11–19. Articles 71 and 72 of ILO Convention No. 102 (1952) on Minimum Standards of Social Security set out similar requirements.