A/HRC/55/44/Add.1 however, can only develop in an amount proportionate to society’s acknowledgment of multiculturalism and reciprocal efforts to understand one another. 37. It therefore needs to be understood that integration is a two-way road, where each person’s path is respected and public spaces normalize diversity as part of the ecosystem of society, and where curiosity for the other is fostered. The Special Rapporteur did not hear much about coherent, permanent structures for teaching all individuals living in Germany about the values of migrants and also allowing and strengthening the infusion of such values into the shared vision and future of the country. An important step in the right direction would be to include, under the Equal Treatment Act, a general obligation for public institutions, including courts, to take positive measures to facilitate interactions in languages other than German, or other forms of accommodation. Another possible step would be to include the effective participation of migrants in designing the German language classes intended to help them integrate, thereby including their knowledge and experience. Representatives of the Goethe Institute expressed interest in exploring such an approach. Another important measure could be the revision of teaching materials to reflect the presence and contribution of migrants, introduced by migrants themselves. More widely, arts and cultural events must include migrants’ histories and values. 38. It was repeatedly pointed out to the Special Rapporteur that counselling and psychological support for addressing the loss and trauma, and even sometimes violence, related to migration processes and the discrimination experienced after arrival were not readily available or adapted to migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, who sometimes had a deep need for such support in order to be able to heal and adapt to their new situation. The intercultural and linguistic competencies of psychological centres are still generally insufficient. The lack of recognition of such needs, combined with other factors such as the insecurity related to the legal status of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, the precarity of their housing arrangements, the possible lack of recognition of their educational or professional qualifications, and the pressure of having to prove the existence of the threats that led to their exile, perpetuates the impression that such persons are not fully seen and recognized for who they are, and reduces their availability to meaningfully engage in language or vocational training and to cope with change. 39. The recent efforts made with regard to Ukrainian migrants, including the positive measures taken to allow them to continue their education online to avoid gaps, to recognize their qualifications and to develop specific programming in Ukrainian in cultural institutions, should serve as examples as to how Germany could do more for migrants of all origins, to increase their chances of rapidly settling into society. 40. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the shift in approach of the Minister of State for Migration, Refugees and Integration, emphasizing equal participation of all as a main aim rather than using the concepts of inclusion and integration, which had not been clearly defined, and the Special Rapporteur hopes that the approach will soon include specific measures. She was also pleased to hear about efforts made in certain states to make more space for the stories of the “others” and for religious diversity in school curricula. Such efforts to enhance mutual learning and understanding from an early age, adapted to local realities, need to be expanded across the whole country. 41. The Special Rapporteur was informed that the federal “Live Democracy!” programme was expanded in 2017 to include a new area on living together in a society of immigration. Under the programme, support was granted to civil society initiatives that connect newly arrived persons with longer-established migrants, who help them navigate the bureaucracy involved in gaining access to basic social services. Such initiatives empower migrants who have been living in the country for a longer period by validating their knowledge and putting them in a position where they can influence the policies that have an impact on their lives. 42. The Special Rapporteur was also told about a few persisting social practices that use culture as a justification for the unequal treatment or violation of women’s rights. As stated repeatedly by the mandate holder, no one can use cultural diversity or cultural rights to violate any internationally recognized human right. It is the responsibility of the German authorities to take measures against practices that violate women’s rights. At the same time, everyone must accept the evolving nature of all cultures, both of migrants and non-migrants, and the GE.24-01816 9