transparent procedures for acquiring citizenship. The discretion enjoyed by States in determining criteria for granting citizenship includes their ability to make justified distinctions but must not result in direct or indirect discrimination based on gender, religion, race, colour, language, ethnic origin or other protected grounds.71 Alongside efforts to facilitate the acquisition of citizenship by long-term stateless residents,72 States should consider other measures to support the ability of long-term stateless residents to effectively participate in social and economic life.73 Policies and measures to address statelessness should be based on accurate data, should be developed and implemented in consultation with national minorities and other groups affected by statelessness, as well as in co-operation with civil society organizations as appropriate,74 and should take into account the needs of particularly vulnerable stateless persons. II. Policies, Processes and Institutions 8. State authorities should institute policies to reduce inequalities affecting persons belonging to national minorities. These can include targeted policies directly benefitting persons belonging to national minorities; general policies benefitting the entire population in areas also inhabited by national minorities; or integration policies promoting co-operation between persons belonging to majorities and minorities. States should initiate and maintain a regular collection and analysis of data, allowing for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of evidencebased policies. National minorities often find themselves at a disadvantage in accessing various spheres of economic and social life. Certain minority groups – such as Roma, Sinti and Travellers or indigenous peoples, as well as individuals within minority 71 72 73 74 30 Ljubljana Guidelines, Guidelines 33 and 35; and CETS 166, article 6(2). Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 35. See for example: Guidance Note of the UN Secretary-General, “The UN and Statelessness”, November 2018; and UNHCR, Statelessness: An Analytical Framework for Prevention, Reduction and Protection (2008). See also: Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues – Statelessness: a minority issue, Seventy-third session of the UNGA, Item 74 (b), “Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights questions, including alternative approaches or improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”, A/73/205, (Geneva 2018). Maastricht 2003, “Annex to Decision No. 3/03: Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area”, paragraph 87. Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life