A/67/293 equality of opportunity, good relations, harmony and peaceful coexistence between persons of different ethnic and racial backgrounds”. 19 It advises the Government, and its activities address discrimination on ethnic grounds and seek to promote respect for religious, cultural and linguistic diversity. The Ethnic Relations Commission of Guyana was created following ethnic violence between Indian and Afro-Guyanese communities to monitor and improve ethnic relations and observe political activities. It held cross-country, multi-stakeholder forums prior to 2006 elections, recognizing that elections had become an ethnic and political flashpoint. 41. Where minorities face violence, the presence of local independent human rights bodies can be a deterrent and important monitoring mechanism. The Office of the Ombudsman of Colombia has a Division for Ethnic Minorities and undertakes activities to protect minority Afro-Colombian leaders and communities at risk or violence from illegal armed forces. Local representatives (defensores comunitarios) work in sensitive minority areas where the presence of State authorities is weak. They have developed the trust of communities and operate an early warning and risk assessment system (Sistema de Alerta Temprana) under which credible threats are identified and alerts are assessed by security forces and civil institutions, often resulting in protection measures. 20 The present Government has continued the policy of institutional attention to Afro-Colombian issues implemented by previous administrations in creating a Presidential Programme for Afro-Colombian Issues. 42. Developing internal minority rights expertise within such national institutions as the police and judiciary constitutes a positive practice, allowing such key protection and justice bodies to engage and consult more effectively with minority communities, ensure protection measures and respond appropriately to their issues, including incidents of violence. In the eleventh preambular paragraph of its resolution 66/144 of 22 March 2012, the General Assembly recognized that individuals belonging to vulnerable groups including minorities are the main victims of violence and of attacks perpetrated or incited by extremist political parties, movements and groups. 43. Community policing methodologies and measures to ensure that minorities are represented in the police can improve relations between minorities and the police. Good examples of initiatives whose aim is to try to encourage participation of minorities and to enhance effectiveness of law enforcement bodies are the National Black Police Associations in the United States of America, Canada, Bermuda and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Fraternal Association of European Roma Law Enforcement Officers. VI. Essential elements of institutional attention to minority issues A. Minority participation and representation 44. Minorities are often poorly represented in institutions, including human rights bodies and ministries working on central concerns of minorities. Improving minority __________________ 19 20 12-45950 See http://www.cohesion.or.ke/. See the report of the Independent Expert on minority issues on her mission to Colombia (1-12 February 2010) (A/HRC/16/45/Add.1). 15