ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 involved and that their views be duly taken into account when legislation on autonomy arrangements is being prepared or amended. 137. When designing electoral systems for autonomous bodies, the representativeness of the national minority concerned should be a key consideration. Electoral systems for self-government arrangements should entail protection against possible abuse.56 g) Availability of financial resources for minority-related activities 138. Availability of financial resources for bodies involved in minority protection is essential to enable them to carry out their mission. This implies the availability of funding for consultative mechanisms, cultural autonomy arrangements and government bodies involved in minority issues at all levels. 139. The resources allocated should be proportionate to the responsibilities of the bodies in question. Funding and budgetary arrangements for minority autonomy bodies should be designed so that they do not undermine their operational autonomy.57 Consultative bodies also need to be provided with adequate resources, including staff and financial means, to support their effective functioning. Resources are also needed to enable them to communicate effectively with their constituencies and to monitor and evaluate the implementation of legislation and policies which affect them. h) Media as a source for the effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in public affairs 140. It is essential that the public be adequately informed about issues relevant to persons belonging to national minorities, which should also be part of mainstream media reporting. It is essential that both mainstream and minority media play a key role in this process, not only by means of transmitting information, but also by promoting tolerance.58 At the same time, excessive politicisation of minority issues through the media should be avoided. Moreover, the media, in particular electronic media, can facilitate consultation processes with persons belonging to national minorities. 141. The participation of persons belonging to national minorities in supervisory boards of public service broadcasts, auditors’ councils and other media-related bodies, as well as in production teams, is essential to ensure adequate dissemination of information on national minorities. In the private sector, providing incentives for broadcasting in minority languages or on minority-related issues can contribute to increasing participation of persons belonging to national minorities in the media. 56 See 1st Opinion on Hungary adopted on 22 September 2000, paragraph 52. See 2nd Opinion on Hungary adopted on 9 December 2004, paragraphs 116 to 119. 58 See also paragraphs 68 and 74 above. 57 34