A/HRC/34/68 suffering killings, rape, torture and deprivation of liberty, or they may suffer harsher consequences of conflict or disasters because of a pre-existing precarious social and economic position, the areas or regions in which they live or restricted access to basic goods and services owing to direct or indirect discrimination by State institutions. As such, minority groups are often overrepresented in populations that are forcibly displaced. In fact, some groups may constitute a minority in a given State precisely because they were forcibly displaced from another State where they were the majority. 10. In the context of wider proposals for the reform of humanitarian action, 5 the recommendations aim to foster discussion about best practices for ensuring protection of minority rights in humanitarian crises. Owing to the often protracted nature of displacement, it is important to note that protecting minority rights in crisis situations can only be effective if also tackled within the development framework. 11. Best practices should reflect the diversity and complementarity of international, national and local actors involved in humanitarian relief efforts and encourage local leadership and effective participation of minority communities in relief work. At all stages of the humanitarian assistance cycle, humanitarian actors, including States, need to be aware of the presence of minorities in the wider affected population and to ensure that the particular needs of minorities, as well as those within minority groups who may face multiple or intersecting forms of discrimination, such as women, children, older persons, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex persons, persons with disabilities and stateless persons, are duly taken into account in programming and delivery. 12. The present recommendations are intended to be implemented in all countries in full respect of universal human rights standards, regardless of political, religious, historical and cultural backgrounds or any specific State ideology, religion or value system. II. General considerations 13. The recommendations in the present document should be read in conjunction with the report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues that addresses the human rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities in situations of humanitarian crises6 and with the recommendations formulated at previous sessions of the Forum on Minority Issues, in particular those of the seventh session on preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities.7 14. The recommendations advocate a rights-based approach, in particular: • Recipients of assistance from all ethnic, religious, national and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of age and physical ability, are recognized as active subjects and rights holders with entitlements and obligations, rather than as passive victims; • Systematic consultation with, and meaningful participation of, recipients of humanitarian assistance, including minorities, are essential to enable them to identify their own needs and priorities; • State and non-State humanitarian actors must be accountable to minorities affected by crises. 15. For ease of reference, the recommendations are structured in a chronological manner by the three stages of humanitarian crises: prevention and timely action before a crisis 5 6 7 4 See, for example, https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-transformative-agenda. A/71/254. A/HRC/28/77.