PART II: DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN 5. The preparatory phase of the plan 5.1 Five main stages Putting a national human rights action plan in place is a substantial undertaking. The broad steps towards accomplishing this task involve: • A preparatory phase, during which key agencies and organizations address the institutional structures for planning and engage in initial consultations (covered in this chapter); • A development phase, during which key agencies and organizations elaborate the concept of a national action plan applicable to the country concerned, intensify the consultation process and draft the plan (chapters 8 and 9); • An implementation phase, during which relevant agencies implement the plan (chapter 10); • A monitoring phase, which overlaps with the implementation phase and involves a process of adjustment of plan objectives and activities in the light of circumstances (chapter 11); • An evaluation phase, in which achievement of the stated goals is systematically assessed with a view to laying the foundation for a successor plan (chapter 12). There is a need for effective consultation at all stages of the process. This is addressed in particular in chapters 6 and 7. Situations differ from one country to another, depending on constitutional and legal systems, political cultures, human rights situations and other factors. So there is no single detailed model for developing a national plan. This chapter seeks to identify general elements that have been found useful by countries with national plans or that are desirable in terms of broad human rights principles. Users of the Handbook can draw on these elements when developing new national plans or revising existing ones. 5.2 Who should initiate? The central role of government A national action plan must be approached as an important national endeavour. The fundamental stimulus for developing the plan will be a felt national imperative to promote and protect human rights. In a number of cases, national action plans will be part of a wider process of reform or democratization. More generally, there will be a recognition that effective implementation of the plan contributes to the achievement of broad national objectives such as promotion of social cohesion, improvements in individual well-being and better governance. As the plan will embody commitments by the national government, the government will necessarily have a central role to play in its development. The plan should be 41