II. >> C onceptualizing Indicators for Human Rights >> The conceptual framework civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. For economic, social and cultural rights, it is easier to accept. In many instances, particularly in developing countries, these rights can be realized only progressively because of resource constraints. In such cases, it is logical to monitor this progress. However, even civil and political rights, once ratified and guaranteed by the State, can in principle be immediately enjoyed and have to be protected. It has been accepted that the realization of civil and political rights requires both resources and time, for instance to set up the requisite judicial and executive institutions and to develop policy, regulatory and enforcement frameworks to protect these rights. In other words, in monitoring the realization of civil and political rights, it is equally important to assess the conduct of the process that supports their protection. Thus, any approach to developing indicators as useful tools for furthering human rights implementation will have to address the importance of quantifying human rights outcomes, as well as the processes underlying those outcomes. Furthermore, the case is often made for measuring the acceptance and the commitment of State parties to human rights treaties to meeting Box 5 their human rights obligations. Thus, with a view to measuring that acceptance, intent or commitment, the efforts required to make that commitment a reality, and the results of those efforts in terms of the increased enjoyment of human rights over time, the framework uses a configuration of indicators that have been categorized as structural, process and outcome indicators. Each category, through its information sets, brings to the fore an assessment of the steps taken by the State parties to meet their obligations, be it that of respecting, protecting or fulfilling a human right. The said configuration of indicators not only simplifies the process of selecting and developing indicators for human rights, but also encourages the use of contextually relevant, available and potentially quantifiable information for populating the chosen indicators. Structural indicators Once a State has ratified a human rights treaty, there is a need to assess its commitment to implementing the standards it has accepted. Structural indicators help in such an assessment. They reflect the ratification and adoption of legal instruments and the existence as well as the creation of basic institutional mechanisms deemed necessary for the promotion and protection of human rights. Structural indicators Structural indicators help in capturing the acceptance, intent and commitment of the State to undertake measures in keeping with its human rights obligations. Some common structural indicators are: International human rights treaties, relevant to the right to adequate housing, ratified by the State; Time frame and coverage of national policy on vocational and technical education; and Date of entry into force and coverage of formal procedure governing the inspection of police cells,  detention centres and prisons by independent inspection entities. 34 Human Rights Indicators