E/CN.4/2006/74 page 17 communities must be viewed as both a cause and a manifestation of the diminished rights, opportunities, and social advancement available to the members of that community as a whole. And efforts to reduce poverty are essential to larger efforts to promote the full range of civil, political, social and economic rights for minority communities. 65. Poverty in this context involves more than just a lack of income or a daily struggle for basic sustenance. Poor communities are generally less able to participate effectively in political decision-making or to access mechanisms of justice when their rights are violated. They suffer from unequal access to education, health care, employment and land. Without a targeted focus on their needs and rights, they will remain disproportionately impoverished. And without a more coherent effort to reduce poverty through targeted strategies that specifically reach out to minority communities, the international community will fail to achieve, or sustain, the important targets set within the Millennium Development Goals (the Goals). 66. The independent expert is concerned that the most marginalized communities, including minorities, are failing to benefit from international efforts to achieve the Goals. She welcomes work done by States, development agencies, international financial institutions, United Nations bodies and agencies and NGOs to ensure that the Goals are achieved for all disadvantaged communities. However, she will seek to elevate her concerns about the need for development programmes, policies and activities to take fully into account the needs and rights of minorities with States and among all development actors. She will consult with bodies, including UNDP, to ensure that work in this regard benefits from their experience, country offices and wider country engagement strategies. 67. The independent expert also believes that poverty reduction strategies developed by States and international financial institutions to address poverty and social exclusion are valuable in achieving the Goals. In consultation with States, international financial institutions and civil society, she will identify best practices and effective implementation strategies. She will consult with States that have Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), to assist them in their consideration of minority issues. She will promote the participation of minorities in policy development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of PRSPs. 68. Within this context, the independent expert has identified the use of disaggregated social, economic and development data as a tool that is of significant importance in the development field and to minority communities more generally. Disaggregated data, and especially statistical information on poverty, income and economic participation that can be broken down and analysed across specific groups, reveals inequalities between communities and allows for policy decisions and programmes that address those inequalities. Such data is essential in the promotion and protection of minority rights. The collection, analysis and dissemination of disaggregated data is also essential in building a common national identity based on equality and non-discrimination. As such, in those countries with existing capacity, the independent expert will emphasize in her consultations with Governments the importance of disaggregating data. She will also identify good practice in regard to data collection and statistical methodologies and develop strategies for the implementation of these efforts. In those countries lacking resources and capacity, she will consult closely with Governments to ensure the delivery of technical assistance.