A/56/258 6. On the recommendation of the Working Group and the Commission on Human Rights, OHCHR is preparing a publication on the utilization of international and regional human rights procedures by minorities with contributions from international and regional mechanisms and experts. Leaflets have been prepared on ways to utilize such mechanisms as the Working Group, the United Nations treaty bodies, the Charter-based bodies, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission of Human Rights, the Inter-American human rights system, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Pamphlets containing the text of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, as well as the commentary on the Declaration provided by the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group, are also being prepared. The publication is to be ready for the World Conference. 7. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is also implementing the recommendations of the Working Group to publish new OHCHR web pages on minority issues. In order to promote awareness of the activities of different intergovernmental organizations, links will be made to the web sites of agencies such as the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNHCR, UNDP and the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research. 8. To facilitate further dialogue between the Working Group, United Nations agencies, regional organizations, treaty bodies and national institutions, the High Commissioner is planning to organize an international seminar on international cooperation for the better protection of the rights of minorities, as called for under Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/52 and Economic and Social Council decision 2000/269, in which OHCHR was invited to consider favourably the recommendation of the Working Group to organize a seminar for representatives of international and regional organizations, treaty bodies and specialized agencies, inter alia, to discuss issues concerning their respective work on the protection of minorities. The two-day seminar is scheduled to be held during the World Conference. IV. Participation of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities, in particular those from developing countries, in the Working Group on Minorities 9. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has taken action to implement the recommendations of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights calling for greater participation of minority representatives in sessions of the Working Group on Minorities and for voluntary contributions to be made in that regard. Funds were received to cover the participation of 14 minority representatives from different countries of Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe in the seventh session of the Working Group. The Working Group has proposed the establishment of a voluntary trust fund to assist representatives of minorities and governmental experts from developing countries to participate in various meetings on minority issues. 10. To facilitate the participation of minority representatives from developing countries in activities related to the Working Group and in broadening the Working Group’s awareness of minority issues within different regions, two regional seminars were held in Africa. At the Arusha seminar the participants adopted various conclusions and recommendations. For example, the concepts of indigenous peoples and minorities were discussed. It was felt that the terms were useful in Africa, in particular since they were based on the principle of self-identification. They were acknowledged to be complex and misunderstood in the region, often being seen as threatening the integrity of States. It was suggested that indigenous peoples and minorities could be understood to be peoples with specific identities, histories and cultures. Such peoples could be characterized as non-dominant, vulnerable and disadvantaged. 3