they belong to majorities or minorities, to participate in the economic, social, cultural and political life of society. In addition, States have a practical interest in ensuring equal opportunities to participate: low participation by excluded or marginalized groups tends to bring direct and indirect costs to society as a result of reduced contributions to the common good and the increased costs associated with putting policies in place to address the numerous consequences of exclusion. However, the successive High Commissioners have also learned that simply recognizing and accommodating minority culture, identity and political interests, and promoting the participation of all may not be sufficient to build sustainable and lasting peace. As a result, the High Commissioners have further recommended that States adopt measures and implement policies aimed at promoting the integration and cohesion of diverse, multi-ethnic societies. If diverse societies do not have good integration policies, there is the danger that different communities, particularly large and territorially concentrated ones, may become increasingly separate, with few or no common interests and no shared sense of belonging. Such separation into parallel and unconnected societies poses a considerable risk to the viability and stability of any multi-ethnic State. This risk can be mitigated through a well managed integration process, which can play a crucial role in preventing tensions from escalating into conflict and is also a prerequisite for building an equitable society. Integration is fundamentally concerned with meeting the responsibilities that sovereignty entails, including respecting human rights and ensuring good and effective governance, and it is intimately related to the overall stability of any pluralist society. The Ljubljana Guidelines on Integration of Diverse Societies aim to set out this thinking and approach. The Guidelines go beyond supporting the recognition of minority culture, identity and political interests to additionally recommend that States ensure that communication and interaction are established across ethnic divides. These Guidelines suggest that national minorities should not only enjoy the legal right to effectively participate in the overall governance of the State, but that they should also be encouraged to do so. Integration is a dynamic, multi-actor process of mutual engagement that facilitates effective participation by all members of a diverse society in the economic, political, social and cultural life, and fosters a shared and inclusive sense of belonging at national and local levels. To support the integration process, States should adopt policies that aim to create a society in which diversity is respected and everyone, including all members of ethnic, linguistic, cultural or religious groups, contributes Guidelines on Integration of Diverse Societies 3