A/HRC/13/25 enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Ensuring meaningful and informed participation and the management by minorities of matters directly affecting them is a means to promote stability and integration in the societies where minorities live. 6. Minorities are, however, vastly underrepresented in the political processes and governing institutions of most countries because they are either actively and intentionally restricted from participation, inadvertently disadvantaged by a variety of laws or policies, or because there is a lack of political will in the larger society to dismantle structural barriers to the full equal participation of minorities. 7. In its commentary to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, the Working Group on Minorities stated that the right to participate in all aspects of the life of the larger national society is essential, both in order for persons belonging to minorities to promote their interests and values and to create an integrated but pluralist society based on tolerance and dialogue (E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2, para. 35). The Working Group also emphasized that effective participation requires representation in legislative, administrative and advisory bodies, and more generally in public life (para. 44). 8. At the most basic level, where they are scrupulously implemented, respect for fundamental human rights, including the right to non-discrimination, the right to vote and to be elected, and to freedom of expression, association and assembly, will contribute to the participation and representation of persons belonging to minorities, as well as to diminishing tensions, thus leading to the maintenance of peace and stability. 9. The implementation of the right to effective political participation of minorities is fundamental to the effective realization of full minority participation in political life. It is also a necessary condition to ensure the enjoyment of other fundamental human rights by persons belonging to minorities. Effective participation may be manifested in a wide range of forms, such as dissemination of information, civic advocacy and activism, as well as direct involvement in electoral politics. It can be ensured through many different means, ranging from consultative mechanisms to special parliamentary arrangements and, where appropriate, may even include forms of territorial or personal autonomy. II. Recommendations A. Governments (national, regional, local) and parliaments 10. Governments should take effective measures to end discrimination. They should consider, for instance, instituting independent monitoring and complaints mechanisms designed to prevent discrimination in voting, vote fraud, intimidation and similar acts that inhibit the effective participation of all, especially members of minorities, in electoral activities. Such mechanisms might include, inter alia, ombudspersons, independent electoral commissions and/or free legal services. These mechanisms should be made available in the geographic regions and languages of minority communities, and should be adequately resourced. 11. Governments should adopt a policy statement that recognizes the diversity within their respective societies with respect to race, ethnicity, religion and language, and that highlights the importance of ensuring that this diversity is indeed reflected as widely as practicable in public institutions and bodies, including national parliaments, the civil service, the police and the judiciary. 12. The policy statement should be followed by measures to ensure effective and sustainable minority political participation, including the development of a national plan of GE.10-10615 3