Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life I. General Principles 1. The effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in social and economic life promotes both equality and inclusion, as well as the integration of diverse societies; reduces the likelihood of conflict within the OSCE area; and strengthens peace, stability and good neighbourly relations between individuals and communities and the OSCE participating States. 2. Legislation and other measures should prohibit discrimination on grounds such as ethnicity, religion, race, language and national minority status. Protection against discrimination constitutes a cornerstone of effective participation in society and should cover all fields of social and economic life, including employment, housing, health care and social services. 3. States should take steps to achieve, progressively, the full realization of social and economic rights for all. States should be transparent regarding their available resources and their prioritization; national minorities should be treated fairly and proportionately to the majority in resource allocation, with additional resources allocated, as needed, to achieve effective equality. International assistance and co-operation, as necessary and appropriate, should contribute to reducing the social and economic exclusion of national minorities. 4. States should establish specific arrangements for persons belonging to national minorities, which facilitate the effective participation of all in social and economic life. Reasonable and proportionate measures taken in this regard do not constitute discrimination. 10 Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life