and to set up stark and belligerent divisions between people, is short-sighted. We need a much more capacious vision. If I may quote Amartya Sen for a moment, "The best hope for peace in the world lies in the simple but far-reaching recognition that we all have many different associations and affiliations; we are not rigidly divided by a single categorization of hardened groups which confront each other." This recognition of blurred and cross-cutting identities — of the wonderful diversity of individuals and cultures within our shared membership of humanity — is a source of tremendous enrichment. Thus my Office takes a leading role in inter-agency work on minority issues within the UN, in cooperation with the Special Rapporteur Issues and this forum, as well as CERD and other relevant human rights monitoring mechanisms. Among other aspects, this work involves