A/HRC/28/77 minority rights, as stated in the Human Rights Up Front initiative, including by strengthening cooperation in respect of information gathering and sharing, and improving information flow between themselves and with States. They should improve expertise, exchange good practices and assessments of situations of common concern, and encourage mediation, diplomatic and dialogue initiatives to develop a common understanding of emerging security concerns, as well as ensure a timely and coordinated response. 43. The United Nations should assist States and civil society in building the capacity of minority communities and individuals to identify the specific issues they face, develop concrete solutions and empower minority groups and individuals to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of relevant local, regional and national law, policies and programmes aimed at preventing violence against minorities. 44. International and regional organizations should assist States and other relevant national stakeholders in disseminating findings and mapping implementation progress of United Nations human rights mechanisms and bodies. That should include the recommendations and concluding observations adopted by treaty bodies, those issued by special procedures and stemming from the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council and, when relevant to the situation, the recommendations of commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions and other ad hoc human rights investigative mechanisms specifically addressing minority rights protection and promotion. B. 1. Recommendations to address ongoing violence Recommendations to States 45. States must respect and ensure implementation of international human rights law and, where armed conflict is occurring, humanitarian law, regarding the protection of persons belonging to minorities who are at risk of or have experienced violence. All protective measures should take into account the complexity of situations in which minorities face recurrent violence from multiple actors, and should extend beyond the physical protection of individuals to the preservation of communities’ cultural institutions, including places of worships, and livelihoods. 46. States have the primary responsibility to protect their populations from violence and atrocity crimes irrespective of national, ethnic, religious, linguistic or other identity, and should take immediate action in compliance with national and international law to stop violence as rapidly as possible and by all appropriate and proportionate means. Where appropriate, and on the basis of consultation and dialogue, States should provide technical and other assistance and support to other States to fulfil their responsibility to protect their population from violence or atrocity crimes. 47. States must ensure that minorities affected by violence, including the most marginalized groups and those affected by conflict in which they are not combatants, have access to immediate humanitarian aid and relief such as water, sanitation, food, shelter and health care and other essential services. Measures required may include the establishment of humanitarian corridors, safety zones and other protection and humanitarian access measures. 48. States must recognize that women belonging to minorities may be exposed to gender-specific forms of violence, including rape and other forms of sexual violence used as a “weapon” in conflict situations, forced marriage, trafficking and forced prostitution. States must take appropriate measures to protect women from the risks and threats of such violence. 9