There may also be a need for consultation between the committee and government on the terms of the final version of the plan. As there will have been substantial government representation on the coordinating committee, its deliberations may be expected to have proceeded with the government’s full awareness and concurrence. Sometimes, however, it is only at the point where a final draft is available for consideration that the government’s full attention is applied to such an issue. It is vitally important that the final version of the plan enjoys not only the approval of the government but also its enthusiastic support. Achievement of the plan’s objectives will require adequate resources, sustained attention and sustained direction from the highest levels. Thus, it is important that the plan’s text should be placed before government with a recommendation that it should be the subject of continuing government support. 8.7 Linkage with other national planning activities As they reach into most areas of government activity and are not only potentially beneficial to individuals but may also serve the interests of the nation as a whole, national human rights action plans are of overarching significance. Viewed conceptually, the realization of human rights may be seen to incorporate virtually all government activity in the social and legal areas. While this conceptual approach should be kept in mind, it should also be accepted that, realistically, linkage will be seen by government as a matter of coordinating human rights planning with the many other planning activities that are likely to be under way. It is important for the coordinating committee to ensure that the national human rights action plan is consistent with other national plans. Conversely, the committee should seek to ensure that the plan’s human rights objectives are reflected in other planning activities. This applies in particular to development. International human rights standards provide a framework for the effective pursuit of people-centred processes of development. The national human rights action plan will provide an ideal opportunity to promote public participation and to ensure the centrality of all human rights in the development process. In addition to broad national plans, such as those relating to development, protection of children or elimination of discrimination against women, government social policy will usually be expressed in terms of objectives within some kind of plan, even if it is not given a public profile. For example, the health authorities of a particular country may plan to improve the availability of preventive health care or reduce the incidence of particular diseases. These plans may, however, be largely internal to the government agencies concerned. Nevertheless, it is on the content and implementation of these other plans that actual progress towards the achievement of human rights objectives will ultimately depend. It will be important for the coordinating committee to ensure that national human rights action plan goals are reflected in the State’s social planning objectives, regardless of the format for expressing these objectives. 68