A/HRC/58/60/Add.1 separate targeted groups to a holistic approach and adopt special measures at the local and regional levels to address specific needs. C. Measures to implement the right to participate in cultural life 78. The Special Rapporteur believes that it is necessary to prioritize and strengthen the participation of all in the formation, delivery and evaluation of public priorities, policies and actions. The right to participate in cultural life includes the right of everyone to feed, directly and indirectly, into the vision of society, through grass roots, open, democratic and accessible mechanisms and structures. At the moment, this is not the case. One of the consequences of the years of dictatorship was the erosion of social engagement, so that participatory citizenship has a long deficit to recover from. A cornerstone in rebuilding democracy will be to improve communication and prevent disinformation. The Special Rapporteur was glad to hear that it was a priority of the Government to address disinformation, 16 including by strengthening community media. Another cornerstone will be to foster the participation of all through institutionalized and formal mechanisms, support for local initiatives and the use of public spaces. 79. In view of the security concerns that were raised repeatedly, the Special Rapporteur was surprised that the Government had not focused more attention on supporting participation. The reduction of social tensions cannot be achieved solely through public order and security measures. As tensions often derive from the feeling of not being heard or included, emphasis on participation through a bottom-up approach is known to reduce frustration and enhance people’s feeling that they are part of the social fabric. 1. Formal participation mechanisms 80. The rigid institutional structure in Chile makes the implementation of a participatory human rights approach difficult. The highly centralized nature of the State represents a first obstacle to broad participation in cultural life. The Special Rapporteur was glad to hear that decentralization efforts would be increased to strengthen regional and local dynamics. Attention should be given to strengthening both the two-way flow of information to and from the capital and the communications channels between the regions and local communities. 81. The formal channels of participation the Special Rapporteur observed seemed to encourage the maintenance of silos and the status quo, rather than allowing inclusion. Many of the ministries, including the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, admitted being aware that more needed to be done to engage with all parts of the population and ensure that multiple voices were truly involved in shaping their work. The Special Rapporteur is concerned that, in the search for fresh new visions, experience, long-standing expertise and historical memory are not valued, and that the people who have them are pushed aside with no period of transition and thus with no opportunity to share their knowledge and experience. Fresh visions need the reality check and the lessons provided by past experience. 82. Each ministry has institutionalized a civil society council that holds periodic meetings to discuss the orientations and define the priorities for reports of that ministry. However, these councils have a consultative, not a decision-making, function. The Special Rapporteur is concerned about the limited and sporadic participation, in particular of civil society organizations representing the most disadvantaged groups, in the design and monitoring of the public policy of the respective ministries. The organizations and individuals participating in the various councils should change regularly so that many voices can be heard in the development of the plans of the ministries, in the evaluation of what has happened and in the delivery of what is about to happen. 83. The Special Rapporteur notes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes broad consultations prior to the universal periodic review, but stresses the need for such open sessions to also be organized to discuss recommendations received from the universal periodic review, as well as those from treaty bodies and special procedures. All social 16 GE.25-01340 See www.minciencia.gob.cl/areas/comision-contra-la-desinformacion/. 15