HEALTH RIGHTS Local capacity and participation The rhetoric of ‘participation’ is often used by international finance institutions and governments. Minorities and indigenous peoples can take advantage of stated commitments to gain a seat at the table, demand consultation and have genuine input into policy decisions and programmes affecting their health and well-being. In order to participate effectively and influence local, national and international decision-making, community members require the necessary information and support. Building local capacity around health and a healthy environment as rights issues are fundamental to making lasting gains. Governmental allies Sometimes it is more productive to provide or obtain technical support for the government than to denounce actions or inaction. Different actors within the government can prove to be valuable allies. Elected representatives, as well as sympathetic ministers or officials at the local level, can play key roles in obtaining funding for regulatory and oversight agencies, securing information and investigating facts, as well as influencing other important actors. Non-state actors Often governments have neither the political will nor the resources to protect the rights to health and a healthy environment. Further, trade agreements, loan conditions, and intellectual property regimes can significantly limit their capacity to adopt protective measures. Although it is more difficult to hold IFIs and TNCs legally accountable for human rights violations, it can be equally effective to hold them politically and ethically accountable, in order to secure a change of policy or conduct.38 Campaigns and legal action Domestic litigation and international petitions can establish the principle of enforceability and provide remedies in specific cases. They can also draw media attention, affect public perceptions, mobilize communities and put pressure on the government and private actors. It is sometimes more fruitful to draw attention to health rights through an illustrative case. Conversely, to be effective, legal strategies should always be situated in larger campaigns that include public outreach and education, and political organizing. 49