The coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Unit at the OHCHR, Mr Antti Korkeakivi, presented document A/HRC/FMI/2009/5 entitled “Work of the OHCHR and human rights bodies with regard to Minorities and the Right to Effective Participation 13 ” which outlines key human rights provisions, provides an overview of the work done by special procedures on this theme, the UPR and the Durban process, highlights selected conclusions of human rights treaty bodies, gives an overview of thematic advice, capacity-building and field engagement by OHCHR aimed at advancing the right to participate in decision-making. He also pointed to the draft recommendations of the Forum containing a number of initiatives where the OHCHR could play a role, including: - provide support for country-specific consultative structures for minorities in places where such structures do not exist; - support dialogue between representatives of parliamentary committees or other parliamentary structures devoted to human rights and/or minorities to discuss participation of minorities in political decision-making and to encourage networking between such structures; - encourage the Inter-Agency Group on Minority Issues to devote one of its upcoming meetings to effective participation by minorities to discuss the respective roles of its members in promoting effective participation; - ensure effective participation of minorities in the deliberations taking place at the level of the United Nations; - through field presences, help to ensure that key laws relating to minority rights and related issues are consistent with international human rights standards and that these standards are fully reflected in future legislative initiatives. Ms. Graciela J. Dixon, attorney and former Chief Justice of the Corte Suprema de Justicia de Panamá, gave a presentation on “Basic requirements for effective political participation and suggestions of concrete steps to advance minority political participation”. She stated that, when intending to build minorities’ capacity to achieve effective political participation, basic factors are related to: education, awareness and recognition of the diversity in a given society, the need to strengthen civil society organizations, political compromise of national and local Governments, adequate economic and social conditions, anti-discriminatory legislation including constitutional law, accurate census, free exercise of political rights and access to the media. On concrete steps, she recommended inter alia the establishment of a qualification system to measure advances, effective policies and practical measures taken by States to ensure minority effective political participation at all levels and of an international observatory to monitor States on the enforcement of practical measures oriented towards this objective. Mr. Joe Frans also gave a presentation on the Black European Summit, emphasizing that the participation of people of African descent in political organizations and their representation is a prerequisite for equal rights for all in Europe and that racism is the most relevant underlying explanation in trying to understand the role of political parties 13 See A/HRC/FMI/2009/5 available on the Forum’s website: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/forum.htm 19