A/HRC/22/27 4. Regional expert workshop, “Effective participation of persons belonging to minorities in law enforcement: building an inclusive and responsive police force and judiciary” 21. Held in Bishkek on 18 and 19 October, this regional workshop brought together over 70 participants. They included representatives from nine countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine), international and regional organizations (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, UNWomen, United Nations Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and UNDP), national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organizations, as well as international experts in the fields of minority rights and policing. The sessions addressed, inter alia, human rights issues in connection with unlawful discriminatory practices in law enforcement, the need to build trust in law enforcement institutions, and engagement with minority communities. 22. The OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia presented the Study on minority inclusion in law enforcement in Kyrgyzstan, and participants shared lessons learned. The participants recognized the necessity to provide continuous training for police officials at all levels across ranks. Other issues stressed included: (a) the need for reform in law enforcement to be part of a wider structural reform process; (b) reforms regarding access to information in minority languages; (c) the advantages of quota systems and temporary special measures to facilitate recruitment of minorities; and (d) the need for disaggregated data. 23. The participants explored a wide range of minority rights issues relating to the role of the judiciary and in strengthening access to justice. The discussions focused on promoting and protecting the rights of minorities through participation and representation in the judiciary. The importance of guaranteeing independent oversight and accountability regarding the work of the police was stressed. The invaluable role of national human rights institutions and civil society was also highlighted in guaranteeing minority rights. 24. Furthermore, time was allotted to representatives of States and national human rights institutions to present their work on minority issues in connection with law enforcement and the judiciary. These presentations facilitated an open and constructive dialogue with respect to the situation on the ground at the national level. While States primarily presented their achievements, civil society representatives questioned some of the accomplishments claimed. 25. The participants acknowledged the importance attached to deploying efforts to further advance minority rights with a view to building a responsive and inclusive police force and judiciary in their respective countries. Therefore, they agreed to a list of recommendations that could serve as guidelines in the work they undertook at the national level. 5. Consultation: “Reflecting diversity in the process of constitutional reforms in the Middle East and North Africa” 26. By canvassing the current situation as regards constitutional changes in the Middle East and North Africa, the consultation offered an opportunity to examine current shifts in constitutional reforms and constitution-making. Held on 19 and 20 November in Doha, the consultation brought together experts in the fields of human rights and constitutional law from the region to brainstorm on the rapid constitutional changes and notably their impact on human rights and minorities. The experts examined legal developments and explored the different ways in which diversity, including the principles of the 1992 Declaration on Minorities, had been reflected in constitution-making in the region. 7