women and often lack a living wage or access to family life and suffer physical and sexual abuse by employers, provides a stark example of the kinds of challenges faced by minority women attempting to earn an income. In this context, our attention was drawn to the importance of using the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, including the individual complaints and inquiry procedures, as a way of catalyzing positive change. The establishment of UN Women creates additional opportunities in this regard. We were also reminded that financial inclusion is of critical importance and that special attention has to be paid to minority women’s specific circumstances. Other gender specific obstacles of minority women and related recommendations for solutions should be integrated in each section of the recommendations (e.g. special focus on minority women in times of crisis is essential for example when preparing disaster response). Many of you spoke about discrimination in land allocation and land laws, in national planning projects and housing and called for participation in decision making about the development /allocation of resources to communities where minorities live. In far too many contexts of economic growth and development majority communities cast their eyes on land which is rich in minerals, resources, water, etc…often these are the lands where minorities live and where they have built their livelihoods – as was stated by an expert in the side event yesterday, there is unfortunately only one truthful way of describing this – that is “theft”.