A/HRC/22/49 to minority issues, the majority sent jointly with other relevant mandate holders. These will be made publicly available, together with responses received from concerned Governments, in the special procedures communications reports.1 The Independent Expert particularly notes with concern the number of reports of alleged violations of the rights and security of religious minorities. D. Consultations and meetings 6. The Independent Expert welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General in March 2012 to establish the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities, to be coordinated by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The network will enhance dialogue and cooperation between relevant United Nations departments, agencies, programmes and funds and develop a guidance note for the United Nations system on how to address racial discrimination and protection of minorities in line with core human rights standards. The Independent Expert noted her readiness to assist the network, and on 26 November attended its second meeting to update members on her activities and priorities and provided some practical recommendations. 7. On 11 April 2012 the Independent Expert contributed to a conference on the European Union Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies at the European Parliament. She noted that over many years, hundreds of studies and vast amounts of research had been conducted to identify successful integration methodologies, and that dozens of concrete initiatives and measures had been proven to work for the integration and inclusion of Roma communities. Those positive policies and initiatives must be implemented and shared in order to be replicated where they are most needed. 8. The Independent Expert participated in conferences on the issues of minority women and girls, including a meeting in the context of the Roma Women for Life without Violence project in Sarajevo in April 2012. She spoke about the need to acknowledge and address violence against minority women, and emphasized that their issues and voices must be reflected when designing policy and programme strategies. On 6 September she attended the event entitled ―Women as Agents of Change in Migrant, Minority and Roma and Sinti Communities‖ held by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna. The Independent Expert stressed the importance of access to education, involvement in political life and participation in economic life as fundamental issues for minority women. 9. On 27 September, the Independent Expert attended the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, held by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, in Warsaw. She participated in a working session entitled ―Roma/Sinti and, in particular, empowerment of Roma women‖. In her comments she highlighted the recommendations of the fourth session of the Forum on Minority Issues, which focused on guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls. She emphasized the need to pay greater attention to the issues and unique challenges faced by women and girls in all regions. 10. The Independent Expert has noted that, while the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals is approaching, progress in achieving the Goals for minorities has not met expectations, and emphasized that renewed attention should be given by all States to the situation of minorities. She also participated in and submitted 1 4 See http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/SP/Pages/CommunicationsreportsSP.aspx.