judiciary system, as well as the equal access to technology and fostering digital literacy within minority communities. He pointed to the practical power of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Rabat Plan of Action and Faith for Rights, as well as of independent and functioning legal structures that are paramount for safeguarding the rights of all.13 Mr. Slava (Veaceslav) Balan noted that minority issues tend to be overwhelmingly dealt with through specialised institutions, which are important as a first stage to raise awareness about most outstanding minority issues, but the next step – i.e. mainstreaming of minority issues – is urgently needed. He suggested that a minority dimension should be added to all national policy documents, most notably in national human rights action plans and national (sustainable) development strategies. He also noted that the minority dimension should find its place in more dynamic and well-resourced streams and agendas, such as gender equality, children rights, rights of persons with disabilities and so forth. He also recommended to include in minority work new actors, such as cities, regional authorities, national human rights institutions and professional organizations. Empowerment and inclusion of persons belonging to minorities within the structures of the decision- and change-making are the main drivers, enablers and amplifiers for the promotion of minority rights. Mr. Balan concluded by supporting the proposal of a new international convention on minority rights, calling important actors – such as cities, regions, businesses – into its ambit and by recommending the UN/OHCHR to introduce and promote within the UN Country Teams a new function – that of a “Minorities Advisor” – to support the work of Human Rights Advisors and Gender Advisors and to other international inter-governmental organizations (such as the CoE, OSCE, OECD, etc.) to also consider introducing Minorities Advisors into their central and field structures.14 Interactive Dialogue15 In the interactive dialogue part, examples of legal and structural approaches to more inclusive societies encompassed national policies to promote inclusion and prohibit discrimination and to ensure equal opportunities in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, such as the adoption of an adaptive curricula and the support for multilingualism; participation of minority communities and persons belonging to them and the close consultation of minorities regarding legislative changes and their implementation; legislation to protect persons belonging to minorities against discrimination; the inclusion of minority languages in the public education. Item IV: Protection and promotion of the rights of persons belonging to minority groups towards cohesive societies Under this item, the Forum welcomed constructive exchanges and the sharing of additional information on positive examples, good practices and legal and institutional frameworks and policies that effectively safeguard minority rights and promote the inclusion of persons belonging to minorities in society, as well factors contributing to and those inhibiting societal cohesion Presentations on the topic under discussion were made by the following panellists: Ms. Nouha Grine, Secretary of Tamount Association for Amazigh Rights; Ms. Lecia Brooks, 13 The integral version of the statement of Mr. Farooq Aftab can be consulted here. The integral version of the statement of Mr. Slava (Veaceslav) Balan can be consulted here. 15 Interventions in the interactive dialogue part of item 3 on “Legal and Structural Approaches to More Inclusive Societies” can be consulted on the UN WebTV here. 14 9