choice in many instances. But, while they benefit minorities, because minorities are overrepresented among the poor, they are often not specifically focused on addressing the particular needs and circumstances of minority lives. Education is a key component to ensure economic participation of minorities and a number of speakers emphasized the importance of education children in their mother tongue and ensuring linguistic integrity. However, it is my belief that it is equally important not just to focus on the minorities, but to educate the majority for non-discrimination, starting from childhood and including training for police, law enforcement, the judiciary, law makers and policy makers. Several speakers highlighted the importance of identifying and knowing whoa re minorities and how exactly they are being affected by policies, there was a recurring call for data collection and analysis to strengthen monitoring. At the same time, I believe, it is important to ensure safeguards and guarantees of privacy so that such data are not misused to violate the rights of minorities, especially to safety and freedom from violence. Finally, several participants highlighted the key importance of support for minority groups and organizations, particularly at the grass roots level and the examples of women’s minority groups in supporting and improving their communities was a welcome reminder of the need for a vibrant civil society. Support for the recommendation to establish a Voluntary Fund for Minorities was heard more than once.