ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 34. The Advisory Committee has, therefore, repeatedly insisted on the fact that antidiscrimination legislation should be enacted or, as appropriate, further developed and fully implemented with a view to eliminating discrimination against persons belonging to national minorities, especially in the labour market, in the field of housing and by health care providers. This also implies that adequate measures should be taken to raise awareness in the society at large and provide training for all stakeholders, including lawenforcement bodies. 35. It is also important that appropriate legal remedies are available in cases of discrimination. State Parties should raise awareness among persons belonging to national minorities on existing remedies and ensure that these are easily accessible. 36. Moreover, the Advisory Committee has often underlined that racism and discrimination can have a disproportionate impact on women and girls belonging to some minority groups in particular. They can experience multiple discrimination because of their ethnic origin and gender. Targeted measures should, therefore, aim to remedy specific forms of discrimination faced by women belonging to national minorities.8 c) Capacity of public service to deal with socio-economic needs of persons belonging to national minorities 37. Participation of persons belonging to national minorities in socio-economic life is sometimes hampered by administrative obstacles and by a lack of sensitivity to the specific needs and difficulties encountered by these persons on the part of administrations and public services. In some cases, difficulties arise from the insufficient capacity of the administrations concerned to cater for the specific needs of persons belonging to national minorities. Administrations and public services include education and social institutions, such as employment services, social services and social benefits providers, health and housing services, public transports and utilities, sports and recreation services. 38. State Parties should therefore take measures to better prepare the staff of public services and welfare institutions to provide adequate responses to the needs of persons belonging to national minorities. Specialised training may be required on the specific needs of persons belonging national minority communities as well as on the specific social and economic problems which may affect persons belonging to some national minorities in particular. In fact, persons belonging to some minority groups are more at risk of social exclusion and their integration in socio-economic life often requires targeted approaches, which fully take into account cultural and other specific circumstances. 39. Public services and welfare institutions need to be made easily accessible and available to national minorities. This may require a range of outreach activities and an adaptation of these services and institutions to ensure that they meet the specific needs of national minorities in practice as effectively as they meet the needs of the general population. 8 See for example second Opinion on Ireland, adopted on 6 October 2006, paragraphs 50 and 51. 16

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