discrimination and exclusion, and they struggle to gain access to their human rights, even under conditions of full and unquestioned citizenship. Denying or stripping them of citizenship can be an effective method of compounding their vulnerability, and can even lead to mass expulsion. Many minorities live in a precarious legal situation because, even though they may be entitled under law to citizenship in the State in which they live, they are often denied or deprived of that right and may in fact exist in a situation of statelessness. While many conditions give rise to the creation of statelessness, most stateless persons today are members of minority groups. 11.5.2 UN Special Rapporteurs In addition to the Independent Expert on minority issues, there are other Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council that give particular attention to minority groups. These include:      The Working Group on people of African descent The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. Special Procedures may conduct country visits (upon invitation) and receive communications. They also produce regular thematic reports. Special Procedures have cooperated with UNDP COs during country visits to raise awareness and engage in dialogue with governments on best practice and potential reform.60 For example, the UNCT Ecuador worked closely with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of indigenous people during country visits. Both Special Rapporteur Rodolfo Stavenhagen’s country visit report and Special Rapporteur James Anaya’s specific recommendations on the 2008 Constituent Assembly Process provided important inputs for the development programming and programme implementation of the UNCT and the IAWG on Intercultural Issues. Ecuador will also receive a visit of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. 11.6 THE UN FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES In 2007, the UN Human Rights Council established the UN Forum on Minority Issues. The Forum on Minority Issues provides a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; provides thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the Independent Expert on minority issues; identifies and analyzes best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities; and contributes to efforts to improve cooperation among UN mechanisms, bodies and specialized agencies, funds and programmes on activities related to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities, including at the regional level. The Independent Expert on minority issues guides the work of the Forum, prepares its annual meetings and includes the thematic recommendations of the Forum in his or her report. The Forum meets annually for two days in Geneva and is open to attendance by States, UN agencies and mechanisms, international organizations, For an overview of best practice in implementing recommendations of Special Rapporteur on indigenous people, see Study Regarding Best practice Carried out to Implement the Recommendations Contained in the Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur, UN Doc. A/HRC/4/32/Add.4 (26 February 2007). 60 156 M A R G I N A L I S E D M I N O R I T I E S I N D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M M I N g