30. States should recognize, support and promote the economic contributions of national minority entrepreneurs, including economic activities associated with traditional industries and occupations. Minority entrepreneurs may face specific barriers to effective social and economic participation, including discrimination in lending policies and by lending institutions, lack of access to resources, burdensome regulations or other obstacles impacting their entrepreneurial activities. This may affect activities associated with traditional industries and occupations, which should be considered in the context of the right of national minorities to maintain and develop their culture and to preserve their traditions and cultural heritage.158 In addition to having in place comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and making available opportunities for effective remedies, States should actively support and promote the economic contributions of national minority entrepreneurs. This should include consulting with them on how to tailor programmes and other initiatives to encourage and support minority entrepreneurship, including through the development of economic activities associated with traditional and other industries and occupations closely connected to minorities. Any obstacles or restrictions, regulatory or otherwise, which have a disproportionate impact on the entrepreneurial activities of national minorities must be reasonable and justified so as not to breach the prohibition of discrimination. States should take account of the effect of such obstacles and regulations on traditional industries and occupations, consult with minority entrepreneurs and representatives, and devise a regulatory framework and other measures that would be more supportive of such economic contributions; for example, through facilitating market access for the products of traditional industries.159 Persons belonging to certain national minorities, including Roma, Sinti and Travellers, and minority women belonging to these and other groups, may face specific obstacles or more significant difficulties in carrying out traditional economic activities and trades. These obstacles should be identified and addressed in consultation with the affected groups when designing and implementing strategies to promote minority entrepreneurship. 158 FCNM, article 5; Copenhagen Document, paragraph 32; and Declaration on Minorities, article 4(2). 159 OHCHR, FMI Recommendations, third session, paragraph 22. 60 Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life

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