Geneva-Minorities International and Human Rights Frameworks and Core Rights Principles on the Rights of Minorities to Effective Political Participation Dr. Ion Diaconu expert, member of CERD The right of persons belonging to minorities to fully participate in public life is generally recognized in international documents on human rights and fundamental freedoms. There are nevertheless challenges and barriers which impiede or limit their participation. 1.Although the International Covenant on civil and political rights of 1996 is not stipulating it as a specific right of these persons, it is providing for the rights of all citizens, without any distinction, inter alia on grounds of race, colour, language, religion, national or social origin, to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen reprezentatives, to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in their country. Similarly, the International Convention for th Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination of 1965 is committing States parties to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, in the enjoyment of , inter alia, political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections-to vote and to stand for election, to take part in the Government as well as in the conduct of public affairs at any level and to have equal access to public service. The Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination adopted in 2000 a General Recommendation on discrimination against Roma, calling upon States to take the necessary steps, including special measures, to