"Empowerment is best understood through the prism of power. Power is generally thought of as a relational construct, with multidimensional facets: on the one hand, power may generate exclusion, discrimination and disadvantage; on the other hand, power may create change favorable to those disempowered. Power is dynamic and fluid and can co-exist and operate in diverse forms across times and places. Power may be covert or hidden, overt or visible, or even invisible; power is often shaped by laws or policies, and by socialization and social practices." (Asian Consortium for Human Rights-Based Access to Justice, 2011) "several models of power emerged over the years: Mosedale (2003) distinguishes between the 'zero-sum model of power' where 'one person's gain is another's loss,' and 'non zero-sum models of power' where 'one person's gain is not necessarily another's loss.' The 'zero-sum model of power' generally refers to the notion of power over, ot'the ability to influence and coerce, to force someone or some group to take actions against their will, or, positively stated, to resist force; it may include the ability to prevent certain people or issues from being heard and the ability to legitimize some voices and discredit or render others voiceless.' While the 'non zero-sum models of power' refer to the notions of power to (or'generative and productive capacity to take action, to organize and change existing hierarchies'), power with (or'collective action to solve problems and attain goals'), and power within (or 'personal power, emanates from increased individual consciousness, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-respect and involves the development of abilities to overcome internalized control or oppression')." (Asian Consortium for Human Rights-Based Access to Justice, 2011) "Diokno (2004) emphasizes that because human rights address issues of power, equity and discrimination, they form valuable strategic entry points for addressing the ways by which power relations produce and reproduce deprivations of fundamental freedoms and entitlements. These 'strategic entry points' represent the different dimensions of empowerment: economic empowerment, human empowerment, social empowerment, political empowerment, legal empowerment and cultural empowerment." (Asian Consortium for Human Rights-Based Access to Justice, 2011) Public finance may facilitate empowerment by making fiscal policy and actions subject to public debate, thus enhancing public learning and public ownership over the resources people themselves contri bute. "The rule of law is more than a mechanical or narrow or rigid application of laws and rules; it is eguity, fairness, justiceand impartialityin determining conflicting claims. lt is a fair and just legal framework coupled with impartial and effective implementation. The principle of the rule of law requires: (a) that conflicts be resolved impartially, on the basis of fact, in accordance with law, and without improper influence or pressure; (b) availability and accessibility of independent and impartial judicial or administrative forums to act on conflicts; (c) provision of appropriate remedies and etfective redress mechanisms, including appeals mechanisms; and (d) inclusion of efficient monitoring mechanisms to ensure impartial and just implementation of laws, rules and regulations." (NEDA, 2011) The rule of law carries nine essential attributes: supremacy of the law, equality before the law, accountability to the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of power, 36