A/60/333 indigenous and tribal peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The promotion and protection of the rights of minorities at the national, regional and international levels is acknowledged as one of the priorities of the Government of Finland, as persons belonging to minorities were more likely than others to suffer discrimination and other human rights violations. The Working Group’s visit was seen as contributing to constructive dialogue with international mechanisms. Other Governments were encouraged to consider inviting the Working Group to their country. The Government of Switzerland has also extended such an invitation. 11. It should be stressed that Governments may also call upon technical expertise from the new mandate of the independent expert on minority issues established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/79 and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in its decision 2005/278. On 29 July 2005, the High Commissioner for Human Rights appointed Gay McDougall to this mandate. III. Involvement of international actors in minority issues 12. The international community, including regional organizations, have been paying greater attention to the protection and promotion of minorities within the context of moving the United Nations to a culture of prevention, and peacebuilding in post-conflict situations. 13. The General Assembly and other organs of the United Nations have placed particular emphasis on the importance of establishing or strengthening cooperation with international and regional mechanisms to encourage dialogue among and between Governments and minority groups at the country level. At the sessions of the Working Group on Minorities, special appreciation has been expressed for cooperation with and the work of the Office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, particularly through the Office’s use of quiet diplomacy for engaging in dialogue with Governments and others to solve issues pertaining to minorities. 14. An inter-agency meeting was organized by OHCHR on 27 February 2004 in Geneva. Representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNSSC, UNITAR, UNRISD, ILO and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The meeting addressed issues relating to, inter alia, the need to establish a special procedure on minority issues and for United Nations activities at the country level to integrate minority concerns, especially within the CCA/UNDAF process and plans and processes to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Further discussion has focused on the need for the United Nations at the country level to set up structures for cooperating with civil society that would include members of all parts of the population, particularly minorities. The specialized agencies and United Nations funds and programmes have also been specifically requested to consider providing financial support for the participation of minority representatives in the work and activities of human rights mandates dealing with minority issues. 15. The reports of the High Commissioner to the Commission on Human Rights in previous years have analysed the impact of existing special procedures and treaty bodies on minority issues (see E/CN.4/2004/75 and E/CN.4/2005/81). She concluded that while minority issues were frequently addressed by existing human 05-48136 7