UNITED NATIONS • Forum on Minority Issues standards, principles and guidelines developed by different stakeholders as well as national legislation. The Declaration on Minorities is inspired by article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The jurisprudence and general comments of the Human Rights Committee and other treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, have also informed the recommendations. 4. The range of issues included in the recommendations is not exhaustive. It is hoped that the recommendations will be interpreted in a constructive manner, in cooperation and dialogue with minority communities in the light of the obligations of States to implement human rights standards effectively in practice. 5. The recommendations are phrased in broad terms and can be implemented in countries with diverse historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, with full respect for universal human rights. The Forum took into account the fact that a great variety of country and minority situations exist and that, consequently, different measures may be required to improve the participation of minority women, who can be deeply affected by the context in which they live. Standard solutions are generally neither possible nor desirable. 6. The present document provides decision-makers, public officials, non-governmental organizations, academics and others, including minorities and minority women themselves with an overview of possible options and solutions to the challenges facing minority women. The recommendations are a resource for decision-makers, assisting them to make appropriate and informed choices when designing legislation and policies aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minority women, with emphasis on the rights and opportunities for minority women to have access to education, to take part effectively in economic life and to have access to labour markets, and to participate fully in social, cultural and political life. The document further constitutes a useful tool for minorities themselves, both men and women, guiding them in their efforts to improve the situation of minority women. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that a country situation will evolve over time, and therefore needs to be assessed on a regular basis in order that existing mechanisms may be improved or new mechanisms established to ensure that minority women can enjoy their rights fully. II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 7. Women belonging to minorities frequently experience unique challenges and multiple or intersecting forms of discrimination emanating from their status as members of minorities and as women or girls. This may make minority women and girls particularly vulnerable to violations of their rights in both public and private life. Without explicit recognition of the different life experiences of minority women and 46 Compilation of Recommendations of the First Four Sessions 2008 to 2011