UNFMI Positive steps We heard this am in the introductory remarks that welcoming and respecting diversity in our societies, listening to what local people want – and how they want it, providing services and opportunities for social-economic participation in ways that are tailored in terms of language, culture, religion is the way forward. So how can we achieve this? What makes an effective antidiscrimination law? What makes an effective positive measure? Providing walk in anti-discrimination points or trained paralegal in rural areas where those who may have experienced discrimination can access to get advice and support is essential. Whether by Roma in Europe or across Eastern Africa, paralegals bring antidiscrimination to the grassroots allowing 1000s of individuals to raise instances of discrimination. Bodies that monitor anti-discrimination progress are useful when they are effective and independent. Where they don’t exist or are not independent or effective, CSOs have usefully set up what are essentially shadow equality monitoring bodies doing the same work for example, the Association Monitoring Equal Rights in Turkey. Even in countries without specific anti-discrimination legislation, work seeking to achieve social inclusion can be done. In Pakistan, which does not have an anti-discrimination law, it is current common practice for job adverts to appear in the sanitation sector for low wage, low security and low status jobs which state that “only Christians” or “only non-Muslims” should apply. Activists lodged a case in Pakistan’s Supreme Court asserting that this practice is direct discrimination and should cease. Even when new anti-discrimination laws are passed, it can take decades for this to feed into changes in social attitudes and behaviours. Efforts to change “hearts and minds” are therefore extremely important, whether this concerns street theatre against racism, social media campaigns or changes in the curriculum to ensure that respect for diversity is clearly conveyed to all young people. Positive measures although allowed by international law can be controversial. Majority populations need to understand why they exist. Tackling the disadvantage of those furthest behind really is best for us all in the long term. Tragically though, such policies are not always either fair or effective. In Pakistan a quota for religious minorities employed in state roles exists but posts often remain unfilled. In Somalia, a formula gives minority communities half of the entitlement of major clans. We heard a heartfelt critique of this, this morning by a Somali Bantu participant at this forum. In this context, offering minority young people work placements is helpful allowing them to break down barriers. This was initiated by international actors and not by the Somali state itself reminding us that minority inclusion is also important in international relief and development efforts. Mother tongue multilingual education has been proven to be effective in diverse communities, but its application is still patchy. Minority languages can and should be seen as a national opportunity - good for additional language learning and therefore for business links, trade and knowledge sharing between countries. Instead, too often linguistic diversity is seen as a threat to national unity. Tailored provision is also essential to health services: people are unable to act on health advice provided in a language they don’t understand. And again, failure to reach everyone, undermines attempts to eradicate diseases like polio and ultimately impacts us all.