A/69/266 conflict-affected areas are commonly where the most egregious business -related human rights abuses take place. 44. Violence against minorities may be committed by extremist, terrorist, far-right or radical ethnic or religious actors who constitute armed groups or insurgents. Such violence may be targeted against specific minorities, as is the case with the Islamic State in Iraq which has targeted religious minorities in areas under its control, or may target and impact diverse communities, as is the case with the violence by Boko Haram in northern regions of Nigeria. The activities of such groups may also serve to destabilize societies in general and create and deepen divisions between population groups. Measures to confront such illegal and violent actors are vital to maintaining inter-ethnic and interreligious harmony. 45. It should also be recalled that non-State actors can have a positive role to play in preventing violence and can use their often significant influence to promote human rights in the environments in which they operate. Business enterprises, working in compliance with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and ensuring consultation with minorities can, for example, pursue their activities in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on minorities and their environments and can reduce the threat of violence. I. Armed conflict 46. An already existing armed conflict constitutes a big risk for violence against certain minority groups although is not a precondition for it. In paragraph 12 of his report entitled “Responsibility to Protect: State responsibility and prevention” (A/67/929-S/2013/399), the Secretary-General stated Atrocity crimes are more likely to occur during armed conflict, especially internal armed conflict. Armed conflict is itself a source of risk for atrocity crimes, while atrocity crimes can also increase the risk of armed conflict. Not all armed conflict generates atrocity crimes and not all atrocity crimes occur within a context of armed conflict. What distinguishes atrocity crimes is the deliberate targeting of specific groups, communities or po pulations, including persons protected under the Geneva Conventions, and sometimes cycles of reaction and counter-reaction between communities. 47. In a context of armed conflict, the dynamics and evolution of the conflict may create a situation of extreme vulnerability of minorities, even for those not directly party to it, as has been the case in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic, where it resulted in targeted killing, mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis. Civilian populations frequently bear the greatest cost of conflict and minority civilians may be particularly vulnerable. In some cases, men may join or be forcibly recruited into armed factions or flee attacks, while women are left as heads of household, taking care of family members and property. 48. In December 2013, along with other independent United Nations experts, the Special Rapporteur urged all parties in the Central African Republic to call an immediate and unconditional halt to the violence in the country, much of which was targeting minorities. 23 In April 2014, along with the Special Rapporteur on the __________________ 23 14-58850 www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14125&LangID=E. 13/24