A/HRC/4/9 page 24 II. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. Conclusions 101. In all countries, developed and developing, the high levels and disproportionate poverty of persons belonging to minorities requires dedicated attention and concerted action. The initial step for States in designing development policies must be to assess their obligations under human rights treaties and customary law. Within the wider framework of a human rights-based approach to development, the rights to non-discrimination, to participation in decision-making and to protection of cultural identity are crucial to addressing the inequality and exclusion faced by many minorities. 102. The Millennium Declaration establishes an overarching commitment in Goal 8 to “develop a global partnership for development”. Developed countries and the international community have a shared responsibility to address more fully the structural issues facing developing countries in eradicating poverty in general and specifically disproportionate poverty among minorities.38 103. The situation of minority women demands particular attention. The intersection of discrimination on the basis of gender and minority identity should be considered systematically in the reform of policies aimed at poverty elimination. It is well accepted that women from marginalized populations are the overwhelming number of those living in poverty worldwide. B. Recommendations 104. The Independent Expert recommends that States: (a) Gather data on key economic and social indicators concerning the human development of persons belonging to minorities, including through censuses or sampling surveys, to establish sufficient baseline data to design appropriate policy responses. The data, disaggregated by different specific ethnic, religious and linguistic group and also by gender, should be made public. (b) Establish mechanisms for meaningful dialogue with representatives of minority communities about development policies, particularly at the local government level. At the national level, the creation of statutory bodies composed of representatives of minority communities mandated to review and monitor government policy as it may affect minorities has proved useful. 38 Philip Alston, “Ships Passing in the Night: The Current State of the Human Rights and Development Debate Seen Through the Lens of the Millennium Development Goals”, Human Rights Quarterly, 27.3 (2005) pp. 775-777.