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ights principles are also an important basisfor the design of policies, for monitoring theirimplementation and outcomes and for holding allduty-bearers—States as well as global institutionsand corporations—to account for the realization ofsubstantive equality.Human rights emphasize the dignity and freedomof the individual, but their realization dependsheavily on solidarity and collective action. Puttingin place policies for substantive equality requirescollective financing, ideally through progressivetaxation. The narrow targeting of social protectionto the poorest households may seem to make itmore affordable than building universal systemsthat benefit everyone. But universal systems canactually expand financing options by increasing thewillingness of middle and higher income groups topay taxes for well-functioning education, health orpension systems that they would also use. 20Collective action is crucial as well. Women whoexperience multiple and intersecting forms ofdiscrimination need to first understand and claimtheir rights—something that often happens whenwomen get together to discuss their grievances andact collectively to seek solutions. Women workers,including those in informal employment, haveset up their own organizations to represent theirinterests in the workplace. Women’s organizingand the strength of their autonomous movementsare the strongest predictors of gender equalitylaws and policies across a range of areas fromfamily law to violence against women and fromnon-discrimination in employment to childcareservices. 21 Women’s collective action has also beencrucial for ensuring the translation of legal rightsinto the effective delivery of services on the ground,as well as for demanding accountability andredress for major delivery failures.The potential to advance towards substantiveequality is greatest when the claims of organizedgroups of women find openings and receptivityamong actors in positions of power, and whenthere are mechanisms in place—such as publicconsultation and petitioning processes, orparliamentary committees—through which womencan legitimately articulate their claims and policydemands. The success of autonomous women’smovements in mobilizing for women’s rightscritically depends on the alliances women areable to build with other social justice movements,and with sympathetic insiders in political parties,parliaments, government bureaucracies, researchinstitutions and international organizations.17