A/69/266 reprisals against the civilian population. Again, action was not taken and the reprisals occurred. In October 2009, in a press release issued after his visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 26 the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions stated that alarm bells were ringing and called on the international community to take immediate preventative meas ures to avert further killings. 56. In view of the potentially important role of the special procedures in identifying well-grounded facts and signs of potential violence and mass atrocity crimes, the Special Rapporteur on minority issues recommends consideration of strengthened channels of communication and information exchange between special procedures and the General Assembly and the Security Council. Improved use of such procedures as Arria-formula meetings to report findings urgently and directly should be considered. In addition, further consideration should be given to measures to enable urgent engagement with all relevant regional a nd United Nations bodies and the Human Rights Council outside annual reporting schedules. 57. Civil society is also highly active in warning of and trying to prevent impending crises. In Kyrgyzstan, following the overthrow of President Bakiyev in April 2010, Minority Rights Group International warned that political tension could take on an ethnic character and result in an escalation of ethnic violence. In June, rioting broke out in Osh and Jalalabad with, according to the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), groups of ethnic Kyrgyz attacking ethnic Uzbeks in a systematic manner: killing, looting and burning. Some 500 persons, mostly Uzbeks, were killed and 2,000 buildings were destroyed. VI. Key elements of preventing violence against minorities A. Understanding the status of and challenges for minorities 58. To prevent problems and tensions emerging or violence breaking out, it is essential that Governments be aware of the situation of minorities and any threats against them. Minorities are frequently underrepresented in government, public office and decision-making bodies, and consequently their issues and concerns are commonly neglected, misinterpreted or receive less attention than is required to protect their human rights. Dialogue, consultation with minorities and their participation in decision-making are essential principles of minority rights and help States to understand their experiences of discrimination, threats, harass ment or acts of violence against them. 59. Accurate data can lead to effective solutions and help to prevent violence. The collection of data disaggregated by ethnicity, religion and geographical location, for example, allows accurate information on the size and situation of minorities and is an important resource. Such data allow the identification of inequalities among groups, lead to a greater understanding of the causes of inequalities, and allow effective solutions to be designed and implemented. Of le gitimate concern to minorities, particularly those who have experienced violence, is that data are misused, resulting in their being targeted. Such fears are mitigated if processes fully comply with international standards on the protection and use of personal data. __________________ 26 16/24 www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/executions/docs/PressStatement_SumEx_DRC.pdf. 14-58850