A/HRC/40/30 member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination participated in the consultation, which involved 42 participants predominantly from the Buraku community in Japan and also from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Participants shared good practices regarding the measures taken to eradicate discrimination against Dalit communities, and highlighted the need to continue those practices. The consultation was followed by a symposium in Tokyo attended by approximately 130 participants, including around 10 members of the parliament, and representatives of the private business sector and civil society. IV. Conclusions 80. During 2018, persons belonging to minorities continued to face numerous and recurrent significant human rights challenges in many parts of the world. Those challenges included incitement to violence, sexual violence and attacks on the basis of ethnicity and religion. In addition, hate speech and incitement to ethnic or religious hatred, including among refugee and migrant populations, were among the challenges faced by minorities. Roma communities continued to be subjected to violence, systematic persecution, discrimination, prejudice, social exclusion and hate speech. Incidents of discrimination in access to education, housing and employment, and a lack of effective participation in public life were also reported. The Human Rights Council and other United Nations human rights mechanisms continued to address emerging and ongoing situations of oppression of and discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities. They called upon States to effectively and promptly investigate any crimes against Roma individuals and communities, including by investigating any alleged discriminatory motive behind the attacks. 81. In this context, OHCHR continued to monitor the adoption and the impact of policies that had resulted in widespread discrimination against and exclusion of minorities. The Office also engaged in activities and strategies for the promotion and inclusion of non-discrimination guarantees in order to fully implement the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Those measures included supporting policy and legislative processes concerning persons belonging to minorities through the development of anti-discrimination policies and laws, awareness-raising activities and data collection analysis on racial profiling. OHCHR continued to support the efforts to advance truth and reconciliation processes at the national and European levels in order to acknowledge the persecution and exclusion of Roma communities, pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2017. 82. OHCHR adopted a range of country, regional and global strategies to support dialogue and activities with a wide range of stakeholders, with a view to combating hate speech, promoting respect for religious diversity and dialogue, reflecting on the importance of investing in minority youth, collecting disaggregated data on minorities and encouraging their participation in decision-making processes. 83. Respect for religious diversity and dialogue, and for the participation of minorities in various spheres of life, is essential for the development of a truly inclusive society. OHCHR used the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities, and the framework in the Beirut Declaration on Faith for Rights, for training and advocacy purposes with religious minorities, members of civil society and United Nations human rights mechanisms. 84. Promoting minority rights requires the empowerment of minority youth and minority youth leaders, enabling them to better claim their rights and therefore fostering a more peaceful and stable society. In this regard, OHCHR continued to support minority youth through the OHCHR Minority Fellowship Programme (available to 40 participants in Arabic, English and Russian), with a view to investing in their important role as active members of society and of minority communities in certain regions. There is a need to create more space for minority rights advocacy 16