E/CN.4/2006/74 page 18 Promoting inclusion and stability 69. Minority rights, inclusion and equality play an important role in promoting political and social stability and peace, as stated in the 2005 World Summit outcome document. The independent expert considers the development of methodologies for the implementation of law and policy relevant to inclusion and equality as inherent to her mandate. 70. The independent expert recognizes that exclusion, discrimination and racism directed at minority groups may result in social unrest based on inequality. To reduce this risk, she will engage with and support initiatives to identify and understand the causes and prevalence of discrimination against minorities that may lead to conflict and instability. Technical assistance in the area of legislative and policy reform will seek to promote effective strategies of social cohesion, equality and non-discrimination to assist in addressing such situations. 71. In April 2004, in a speech commemorating the tenth anniversary of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that, “We must protect the rights of minorities, since they are genocide’s most frequent targets.” The independent expert intends to collaborate closely with the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and with United Nations bodies such as CERD, to discuss strategies for effective early warning and conflict prevention, including through the development and implementation of social indicators that could highlight patterns of extreme violence or social exclusion aimed at or affecting minority communities. These indicators may be useful tools for identifying concerns in the earliest stages of a deteriorating situation, perhaps many years or even decades before grievances develop into violence within a particular region or State. The independent expert looks forward to initiating a dialogue with the Special Adviser to help identify the earliest structural warnings, including those that may be apparent with respect to minority communities, before other early warnings and other procedures are ever triggered. 72. The independent expert considers that peacebuilding initiatives will also benefit from more reliable information and systematic attention to minority issues. The full and effective participation of minority communities and their representative associations or NGOs is especially critical to the success of peacebuilding efforts after communal violence and conflict. In this context, the independent expert welcomes the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission and will seek to support its work. Mainstreaming minority issues at the United Nations 73. The independent expert will promote the effective mainstreaming of minority issues across the United Nations system, recognizing that situations involving minorities often lie at the nexus of efforts to promote human rights, development and security. She recognizes the many important efforts that have already been taken in this regard, and supports the elaboration of a policy on minorities for OHCHR and other United Nations bodies and the establishment of an inter-agency dialogue on minority issues. The independent expert will encourage these dialogues among representatives of regional bodies, international financial institutions, and other development agencies as well.