Comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that addresses direct and indirect discrimination by both public and private actors is a necessary instrument for combating discrimination and promoting equality.18 To effectively address discrimination in social and economic spheres, anti-discrimination legislation must protect persons belonging to national minorities from discrimination in employment, housing, health care, social protection, public goods and services, and other relevant areas.19 Legislation should also protect against discrimination that occurs on more than one ground. Anti-discrimination legislation should be reflected in relevant provisions of constitutional, criminal, civil and administrative law and be accompanied by robust policy and administrative measures and resources to support its implementation.20 Sector-specific laws regulating social and economic policy areas should be reviewed to ensure that they do not directly or indirectly lead to discrimination.21 Adequate legal remedies, with accessible mechanisms for filing discrimination claims and appropriate sanctions and compensation, including the possibility of non-monetary forms of reparation, as appropriate, are essential in the effective implementation of anti-discrimination legislation. States should ensure the accessibility of legal remedies to persons belonging to national minorities.22 This includes disseminating information about non-discrimination provisions and legal remedies to minority communities, including in minority languages, and to employers and employees in small businesses and the informal sector, which often include persons belonging to national minorities. Trade unions, other civil society organizations and the private sector should be engaged, as appropriate, in efforts to raise awareness about anti-discrimination laws and remedies. State authorities should promote the establishment and membership of trade unions to protect workers’ rights and ensure fair labour practices. As is already the case in many OSCE participating States, equality bodies or other independent national institutions should be mandated to promote and protect rights to equal treatment and non-discrimination in the public and private sectors and in important areas of social and economic life such as employment, education 18 19 20 21 22 20 Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 30. FCNM AC, Commentary on Participation, paragraph 33. Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 30; and CoE, European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), General Policy Recommendation No. 7 (2002, amended 2017). OHCHR, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), General Comment No. 20: Non-discrimination in economic, social and cultural rights (article 2, paragraph 2, of the ICESCR), paragraph 37 (Geneva 2009) (CESCR, General Comment No. 20: Non-discrimination). OHCHR, FMI Recommendations, third session, paragraph 18. Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life