A/HRC/21/39 make certain that the rights of disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups are not disproportionately affected. 55. Cuts in funding to social services that significantly affect those living in poverty, including by increasing the burden of care of women, should be measures of last resort, taken only after serious consideration of all alternative policy options, including financing alternatives. Services essential for persons living in poverty to enjoy their rights should be ring-fenced in national and local budgets. C. States should ensure that facilities, goods and services required for the enjoyment of human rights are accessible, available, adaptable, affordable and of good quality 56. States have obligations relating to the provision of the facilities, goods and services required for the enjoyment of human rights. Even where such facilities, goods and services are provided with the involvement of private sector or civil society entities, States are responsible for ensuring quality, affordability and coverage and have the duty to protect individuals against abuses committed by private service providers. 57. States should bring down barriers to ensure adequate and non-discriminatory access to facilities, goods and services for persons living in poverty. Services essential to the realization of human rights such as health care and education must be financially accessible to communities living in poverty and within safe physical reach. Information about these services must also be accessible. 58. States should ensure the affordability of facilities, goods and services relevant to those living in poverty. No one should be denied access to essential services because of an inability to pay. In some cases, States must provide free access; for example, primary education must be compulsory and free of direct and indirect costs. 59. States should ensure the acceptability and adaptability of facilities, goods and services in relation to the specific needs of persons living in poverty, taking into account cultural differences, language barriers, gender-specific needs and discrimination. In some cases, assistance tailored to the needs of specific groups must be ensured. 60. States should ensure that facilities, goods and services used by persons living in poverty are of the highest attainable quality, including by monitoring the quality of public and private service providers. Providers must be well-qualified and aware of the particular needs of persons living in poverty. D. States should ensure policy coherence 61. States should take into account their international human rights obligations when designing and implementing all policies, including international trade, taxation, fiscal, monetary, environmental and investment policies. The international community’s commitments to poverty reduction cannot be seen in isolation from international and national policies and decisions, some of which may result in conditions that create, sustain or increase poverty, domestically or extraterritorially. Before adopting any international agreement, or implementing any policy measure, States should assess whether it is compatible with their international human rights obligations. 11