A/HRC/20/6 C. Comments from States and non-governmental organizations on good practices and challenges 37. During the first and second segments, approximately 25 States made interventions on both good practices and challenges to the implementation of the Declaration. Considering that the role of the State in protecting the rights of minorities was crucial, the panel discussion benefitted from the diversity of pronouncements made by States on policies and actions undertaken and those they intended to adopt in order to resolve intolerable conditions of poverty, marginalization and exclusion experienced by some minority communities. 1. Non-discrimination 38. Speaking on behalf of a State, one delegate expressed the view that discrimination stood as the core problem affecting the participation of minorities in decision-making, especially decisions affecting them. In the particular State in question, in geographical areas where minority communities lived, their representatives held senior posts in State bodies to ensure that their voices were heard. 39. Another delegate shared the recent developments in the State through special measures offering new opportunities to indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant minorities to participate in the social, economic and political life of the country. 40. One delegate expressed support for the principles of non-discrimination and equality, which were duly observed and through which respect for the distinct language, cultural traditions and heritage of a particular minority group in the country were respected. In the State in question, positive measures to combat discrimination had been taken to facilitate the participation of minorities. 41. Another delegate asserted that respect for the rights of minorities was founded on the elimination of racism and discrimination in all of their manifestations. Respect for diversity and the promotion of tolerance to support peaceful coexistence could be achieved through awareness-raising. An approach involving the sensitization of the public to tolerance and respect for minorities could be achieved through the integration of human rights training in schools from a very early stage. In addition to the Declaration, another important document, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, affirmed that the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of minorities, where they existed, must be protected, and that persons belonging to such minorities should be treated equally and enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination of any kind. 42. Speaking on behalf of another State, a delegate affirmed that it was in the light of the country’s multiracial, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual character that the Ministry of Minority Affairs was created in 2006. The National Commission for Minorities, a statutory body established under the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992, handled specific complaints of deprivation of rights of minorities and made recommendations for the safeguard and protection of the rights of minorities. The State offered minorities education opportunities, including scholarships, an equitable share in economic activities and employment, a certain proportion of development projects for minorities, as well as reserving 4.5 per cent of government jobs and education places for minorities. 43. One delegate stated that, under the interim Constitution of 2007, which guaranteed equal protection of the law, minorities had the right to participate in State bodies on the basis of the principle of proportional inclusion. A reservation and quota system had therefore been introduced to ensure fair representation of all communities in all State and decision-making bodies. 10