A/HRC/28/64/Add.1 leaders are urged to use their influence to promote dialogue and encourage peaceful solutions to tensions. Strengthening minority rights protection 85. The Special Rapporteur considers that additional measures are required to strengthen minority rights protection. Considering the great diversity of population groups and the sensitivity of minority issues in the independent, post-Soviet era, institutional attention to minority issues is currently insufficient and has been downgraded in recent years. Mechanisms to register complaints and seek solutions are currently insufficient. At the time of the Special Rapporteur’s visit, there were only six staff members within the Ministry of Culture with direct responsibility for minority issues. The Government must recognize the wider scope of minority rights that includes but goes beyond cultural issues, and ensure appropriate ministerial-level attention to minority issues. 86. The Special Rapporteur welcomes Government assurances that measures to strengthen institutional attention to minority issues are being developed. She recommends the establishment of a consultative and advisory body on minority issues with frequent and regular sessions, empowered to consider a wide range of matters of relevance to minorities, including problems of minority languages and education, religious affairs, and measures to address practically and prevent ethnic tensions from emerging. A dedicated Ombudsperson or similar structure mandated to address minority issues and receive complaints from minorities should also be considered. 87. A key pillar of minority rights is full and equal participation in public life, including political participation at the national, regional and local levels. Full access to democratic structures is critical for minorities to voice their concerns and to achieve meaningful solutions to their issues. Measures are necessary to strengthen the political participation of minorities and guarantee their full involvement in decision-making bodies. 88. Policies to guarantee representation of minorities in Parliament include reserved seats or the redrawing of electoral districts to allow compact minority communities to elect their own representatives, and should be considered. Measures to increase political and cultural autonomy for some localities with large minority populations may be considered, where appropriate and in full consultation with all communities affected. The Special Rapporteur urges consideration of the recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues which addressed minorities and effective political participation during its second session. 31 89. In many countries, autonomous arrangements have been established and are appropriate taking into account specific circumstances, including where a national minority forms a high percentage of the population in a region. However, the nature and extent of that autonomy should be established in conformity with national law and international standards and through democratic, legal and consultative mechanisms and constructive dialogue which takes fully into account the views of minorities and all affected communities, including ethnic Ukrainians who might constitute a minority in affected regions. 90. Political parties and actors have a responsibility to all citizens and are accountable to all, irrespective of their national, ethnic, religious and linguistic 31 Available from www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Minority/Pages/Session2.aspx. 21