incorporating targeted attention to minorities. Minority rights protection frequently requires measures that go beyond non-discrimination recognizing that disadvantaged minorities may need focused attention to ensure their rights and equality. Dedicated institutional attention provides the necessary impetus for proactive implementation of minority rights, positive measures, consultative and participatory mechanisms and processes, and activities directed towards minorities that are frequently lacking. Establishing institutional attention and expertise on minority issues provides the logical next step from legislation to concrete action and implementation. Numerous governments have put this into practice and established specialized governmental bodies or departments focused on minority issues. Such bodies often have primary responsibility to design, direct and lead government policy on minority issues as well as an essential role in coordination of activities across government institutions. Attention to minority rights should also be incorporated into the work of national human rights institutions, ombudspersons, equality bodies and specialist commissions, but too often that attention is missing. Advisory and consultative bodies are another important form of institutional attention to minorities and minority issues. Building on the vital principle of minority participation they can help to institutionalize dialogue between government and minorities and ensure that minority issues are reflected in local and national policy and decision-making processes. This institutional attention may be particularly important where inter-community relations are historically complex, where long-term challenges persist, or where ethnic or religious tensions or conflict exist or have previously occurred. During these two days, I would also like to hear from you how the recommendations of this Forum could be best used. Previous speakers have referred to the newly established UN Network on Racial Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. I am excited by this UN initiative and have already engaged with the Network members to offer the support and assistance of my mandate. I am looking forward to our cooperation and have already made a concrete suggestion that they use the recommendations of this Forum in their work and as a tool for formulating concrete steps on enhancing minority protection and the fight against racial discrimination. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the young minority rights advocates to this Forum from different regions, including some who are sponsored by OHCHR as part of its Minority Fellowship Programme. Minorities are not homogeneous and it is particularly important to hear diverse voices including those of young people and minority women who frequently have different experiences, face different challenges and have alternative perspective and creative ideas. For example, young people may have new ideas and skills such