A/HRC/4/9 page 20 82. Policy and programme options for addressing poverty among minorities can be broadly categorized either as targeted policies, tailored to the specific needs of minorities as the principal direct beneficiaries, or “mainstreamed” policies (especially for social inclusion) that do not differentiate between the particular needs of varied groups of beneficiaries in a common denominator approach. Governments and international development actors often favour mainstreamed social inclusion policies since these are understood to benefit a wider constituency. Moreover, where disaggregated data along ethnic lines is absent, it may be considered difficult to justify targeting specific groups for poverty reduction programmes. Resentment from other (poor) groups may further isolate those intended to benefit. 83. While mainstreamed social inclusion policies may help minorities to some degree because they are disproportionately among the poor, the generalized approach to poverty reduction can fail to address the particular structures and causes of the poverty experienced by minority groups. For example, adopting a mainstream social inclusion strategy to raise the minimum wage may benefit minorities who are more likely to be employed at this wage in addition to helping all people living on minimum wage; however, such a policy will not tackle the fact that minorities are disproportionately among those earning the minimum wage. The inequality gap may remain and in some circumstances, it may increase. 84. Tackling that inequality will require adopting and enforcing strong anti-discrimination labour laws, strengthening social support mechanisms or considering how to improve the average educational attainment of minorities. Affirmative action policies including quotas or reservations in education and in employment may be considered as temporary measures to address long-term inequalities and lack of access. 85. The decision on whether to use targeted or mainstreamed social inclusion policies requires consultations with minorities. The establishment of advisory committees or similar consultative bodies with representatives of minorities is a vital tool in devising successful poverty reduction strategies. The establishment of consultative mechanisms from below has been a priority for many minority groups. Through grass-roots mobilization, minorities can form coalitions to advocate at a national level on poverty reduction issues. 86. In Honduras such a mechanism was established in 2003 as part of the Programa de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas y Negros de Honduras. Under the auspices of the central Government it includes representatives of the 10 federations of Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples. The programme will initially focus on small infrastructure projects identified locally by Afro-descendants and indigenous peoples. Other components will focus on: strengthening the regulatory framework for the protection of the rights of these communities; sensitization of Afro-descendant and indigenous representatives and government staff to each other’s perspectives on development; and devising evaluation and monitoring tools. It is hoped that the cooperation can be replicated and enlarged. 87. In Kenya pastoralist representatives came together to input into drafting Kenya’s PRSP. The Pastoralist Thematic Group (PTG) emerged out of a traditional gathering, the shirka, where poverty and the PRSP were discussed. PTG gained some attention to their issues and engaged government officials in dialogue about their concerns for the PRSP. While the final PRSP does not adequately reflect their concerns, PTG is a viable structure for continued advocacy. UNDP has established the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee of Kenya as an