ACFC/31DOC(2008)001 In the housing sector, State Parties should take resolute measures to put an end to discriminatory practices that lead to segregation and marginalisation of persons belonging to certain national minorities. Moreover, they should develop comprehensive sectoral policies to remedy problems of substandard housing and lack of access to basic infrastructure, which particularly affect persons belonging to some minorities. In the health care sector, State Parties should ensure the effective involvement of persons belonging to the minorities concerned, in the design, implementation and evaluation of measures taken to address health care issues, so as to better respond to their specific needs. Medical and administrative staff employed in health services should receive adequate training, and the recruitment of health care mediators belonging to national minorities should be encouraged. Moreover, policies promoting equal opportunities should not be limited to access to health care only. They should also aim at the provision of quality services to persons belonging to national minorities, which have the same impact as the provisions for the rest of the population. PARTICIPATION IN CULTURAL LIFE When designing and implementing cultural policies that affect persons belonging to national minorities, it is essential that the authorities adequately consult those national minorities and involve them in the decision-making process to meet their needs effectively. This applies equally in the allocation of public support for minority cultures. Processes of decentralisation, and the delegation of competences to cultural autonomies, can play an important role in enabling national minorities to participate effectively in cultural life. The media play a pivotal role in cultural life; with this in mind, persons belonging to national minorities need to be able to create and make use of their own media. It is equally important that they are represented in the mainstream media, in order to present their views on issues of interest to the society at large. PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS Persons belonging to national minorities can be involved in public affairs through a number of arrangements, such as representation in elected bodies and public administration at all levels, consultative mechanisms or cultural autonomy arrangements. Particular attention should be paid to the balanced representation of women and men belonging to national minorities. Notwithstanding that minority representation in elected bodies can be achieved by means other than the formation of specific political parties, legislation prohibiting the formation of political parties on an ethnic or religious basis can lead to undue limitations of the right 6