UNDP is very pleased' to take part in the second UN Forum. on Minority Issues and would like to thank Ms. Gay McDougall, the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, for the invitation. We also would like to congratulate.Rep. Barbara Lee, the eminent Chair of the.US Congressional Black Caucus, on her appointment as the Chair of the Forum. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates and participants, The thematic focus of the Forum is very crucial for the better achievement of nationally owned development goals and processes, Having been the key development partner of governments for decades, .UNDP believes that their efforts to improve sustainable human development and promote inclusion and stability are complemented and strengthened with better attention to the situation of minorities and with the effective and meaningful participation of minorities in such efforts. The marginalization and/or exclusion of minorities have a significant detrimental impact on poverty' reduction, democratic governance, environmental sustainability and conflict prevention. Minorities have different perspectives that can enrich the assessment, analysis, planning, implementation, and monitoring of development initiatives of all stakeholders, as well as ensure ownership and help find sustainable and effective solutions to development challenges. Here, we would like to thank Ms. McDougall for leading the development of the "UNDP Resource Guide and a Toolkit on Minorities in Development"1, as well as the OHCHR and the Minority Rights Group International for their continued support in this endeavor. We will launch the document early next year and hope that the implementation' of it will, among other things, contribute towards the possible establishment of minority specific advisory and/or consultative mechanisms at all levels, as suggested by one of the participants yesterday. Fair political representation ' of minorities in parliaments can also stimulate broad-appeal policies that reduce conflict and maximize development potential, This is one of the basic premises of our ongoing joint project with the Inter-Parliamentary 2 Union (IPU), referred to by the Secretary-General of the IPU yesterday. The primary target groups of this product are the UNDP country office practitioners and those with policy advisory responsibilities. However, it can also serve as a reference document for other UN agencies, Government counterparts, and other relevant partners. It is hoped that the final product will enable the target group(s) to understand the conceptual issues and fundamental principles relating to the promotion and protection of minorities, learn how to draw on the available international and regional standards to engage minorities in programming processes, influence policy choices, as well as increase their opportunitieS for meaningful participation and representation in development processes. 1