A/HRC/16/45 B. Forum on Minority Issues 6. The Forum on Minority Issues, established under resolution 6/15 of the Human Rights Council, is mandated to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, and to provide thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert. The independent expert is required to guide the work of the Forum, prepare its annual meetings and make recommendations to the Human Rights Council for thematic subjects to be considered by the Forum, and to report the recommendations of the Forum to the Council. In December 2008, the inaugural Forum on Minority Issues considered minorities and the right to education (A/HRC/10/11/Add.1). In November 2009 the second annual session of the Forum considered minorities and effective political participation (A/HRC/13/25). The Forum has been successful in identifying and analysing best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the 1992 Declaration on Minorities and has produced tangible outcomes in the form of thematic recommendations of practical value to all stakeholders. 7. The third annual session of the Forum was held on 14 and 15 December 2010 and considered the issue of minorities and effective participation in economic life. The 1992 Declaration on Minorities states that persons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effectively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life (art. 2, para. 2). In addition, it states that ensuring that persons belonging to minorities are “an integral part of the development of society as a whole” is necessary to maintain or build harmonious and respectful relations among a society’s various components (preamble, sixth paragraph). Furthermore, the Declaration highlights that States should consider appropriate measures so that persons belonging to minorities may participate fully in the economic progress and development in their country (art. 4, para. 5). 8. Economic exclusion is a cause, a manifestation and a consequence of discrimination against persons belonging to minorities. Many minorities have historically been excluded from full and effective participation in economic life, both in the developed and in the developing world. Minorities are often discriminated against when they seek employment, for example, on the basis of their colour, religion, language, names or even addresses. Minorities are often poorly represented even in public sector employment, despite legislation that bans discrimination in both public and private sectors. They may face barriers in accessing credit or loans to begin small businesses and may live in the poorest or remote regions, which offer limited prospects for their economic development. Equally, large–scale economic development projects or commercial activities carried out on the lands and territories where minorities live, without prior consultation of these minorities, have had negative impacts, including displacement, the perpetuation of poverty and, in some cases, violence. 9. Several factors and challenges can exacerbate this exclusion of minorities, including deteriorating economic conditions, ethnic tensions and rising discrimination. In some countries, unequal regional distribution of resources and services and a lack of basic infrastructure in regions where minorities live often have the effect of preventing minorities from fully exercising their economic and social rights. The numerical disadvantage of minority status can also translate into a lack of political power and exclusion from effective participation in decision-making processes to protect rights or access to mechanisms of justice when rights are violated. The past decade has also brought into the picture new and unanticipated challenges, including the global food and economic crises that have been proven to have a greater impact on particular vulnerable groups and minorities. 10. Consequently, the rights of minorities to participate effectively in economic life must be fully taken into account by Governments seeking to promote equality at every 4