A/HRC/14/43 for a collective interest; and how to inculcate a feeling of national unity, while encouraging individuals to assume and celebrate their diversity. 11. The Special Rapporteur believes that in the current context of globalization, migration and multiculturalism, the concept of national identity should be handled in an inclusive way so as to allow individuals who do not identify with, for instance, cultural or historical elements of a given State to nonetheless establish a sense of belonging and avoid being treated as the “others” or the “outsiders”. Indeed, the attachment of such individuals to the ideals, values, objectives and principles shared and promoted in a given State, their participation or attachment to the national political institutions or their feeling of belonging to a given State should allow them to be considered as being part of it. 12. The Special Rapporteur also would like to warn against the inherent dangers of any debates on national identity which would be exclusively led by the State. He underlines the fact that such debates should always be as inclusive as possible and follow a participatory approach, so as to prevent any political manipulation which may entail the adverse effects described above, including the strict and sometimes irreversible categorization of individuals. 13. The identity of an individual is not solely related to the national identity of his or her country. The Special Rapporteur would like to stress that the identity of each individual is made up of a multitude of components, such as gender, age, nationality, profession, sexual orientation, political opinion, religious affiliation and social origin. These components may in turn be multiple since individuals may have several nationalities or several professions, for instance. It is therefore important not to fall into the trap of defining identity on the grounds of one element alone and putting individuals into a single category. The fact that an individual is identified as a national of one State should in no way prevent him or her from also identifying himself or herself with other ethnic or national origins. National identity should therefore not be defined in an absolute or reductive way that compels individuals to choose sides or to organize the different components of their identity into a hierarchy. B. Socio-economic discrimination against members of specific groups of the population 14. At the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, States expressed “deep concern that socio-economic development is being hampered by widespread internal conflicts which are due, among other causes, to gross violations of human rights, including those arising from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and from lack of democratic, inclusive and participatory governance”.9 While the links between racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and socio-economic discrimination have yet to be fully elucidated, there is no doubt that they are closely interrelated and that they tend to mutually reinforce each other.10 Thus, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may also be manifested through the biased distribution of resources favouring certain groups of individuals over others. Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance may therefore impoverish and socially deprive individuals who are believed to be less equal. As a result, these individuals might be prevented from taking part 9 10 GE.10-12566 Durban Declaration, para. 21. The Special Rapporteur discussed the links between racism and poverty affecting ethnic minorities and the socio-economic vulnerability of these minorities in his 2009 report (A/HRC/11/36), paras. 16–39. 7