A/HRC/55/44 VII. Conclusions and recommendations 87. There is a pressing need for States, international organizations and private actors to adopt a human rights approach in all matters relating to science. 88. States and other stakeholders should fully recognize, respect, protect and promote the right of everyone, not only professionals, to participate in science as a human right to varying modalities, without discrimination. 89. A wide, inclusive and decolonized understanding of science is an important way to fulfil the right to participate in science. States must revisit their policies to eradicate any exclusionary processes in defining and applying science. 90. Participation in science requires education in science for all. Special measures must be taken to improve the educational opportunities for vulnerable and marginalized groups. 91. The participation of multiple scientific societies adds to the scientific matrix of society and ensures representation and the advancement of comprehensive solutions to current challenges. 92. States must: (a) Devise public science programmes that involve individuals of all sectors of the population, not only in the collection of information, but in all aspects of research, including design, development, the analysis of results and the preparation of reports; (b) Remove the specific obstacles that prevent women from participating effectively in science, including stereotypes and biases; (c) Take specific and special measures to ensure the effective participation of marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the population, including minorities, migrants, individuals in rural and remote areas and those living in poverty and socioeconomically deprived situations; (d) Ensure the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples in all matters relating to science that concern them. Their sciences and traditional knowledge must be recognized and used, including in matters that affect them, to the degree that they so decide. Their participation in the benefits of scientific endeavours must also be guaranteed; (e) Ensure that alternative science models and their contributions are included in education and discussed in public spaces. 93. States should establish and support multiple science-policy interfaces, engaging all relevant stakeholders, including affected communities and scientific researchers from all relevant disciplines, with due respect for scientific diversity, to participate in decision-making on science matters. Such interfaces should also provide opportunities for the informed participation of the public. They should ensure that policies are developed based on the best scientific evidence available and in accordance with the precautionary and due diligence principles and the obligation to prevent harm. 94. States and other stakeholders, particularly private research institutions and business enterprises, should fully respect, protect and promote the right to academic and scientific freedom, in accordance with articles 13 and 15 (3) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with due attention paid to general comments No. 13 (1999) and No. 25 (2020) of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers. 95. 20 Particular attention should be paid: (a) To protecting scientists from attacks; (b) To refraining from instrumentalizing scientists; GE.24-01813