reinforced. Consequently, female immigrants and women belonging to the autochthonous ethnic groups in Austria have legal means at their disposal to deal with discrimination with the support of the Ombudsperson for Equal Treatment and the Equal Treatment Commission. And both groups benefit from gender equality programmes. Mme Chair, A National Plan of Action on Integration was adopted in January 2010 designed to promote and facilitate integration of people with migration background and aimed at inter alia addressing the specific needs of minority girls and women. The Action Plan is mainly implemented by the newly established State Secretariat for Integration which sets its priorities within the following fields of activities: Language/Education, Work/Employment, Rule of Law and Values, Health and Social Issues, Intercultural Dialogue, Sport/Recreation and Living/regional Dimension of Integration. Minority women and girls often experience multiple forms of discrimination and are of victims of violence. Therefore, the protection of victim of violence has been considerably expanded and improved in our country. A network of intervention centers has been established across the country and restrictions to gain a residence permit for victims of domestic violence, especially in the case of forced marriages, were eased. Austria has also taken effective measures to combat human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking may be granted a residence permit valid for at least six months and may be included in a witness-protection programme. A special care institution called „Drehscheibe"has