A/58/255 IV. Participation of non-governmental organizations and persons belonging to minorities, in particular those from developing countries, in the Working Group 17. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been implementing the recommendations of the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights aimed at facilitating the effective participation of minority representatives in sessions of the Working Group on Minorities and other United Nations meetings on minority issues, and actively seeking voluntary contribution for that purpose. Modest funding has been received, which has enabled several minority representatives from disadvantaged groups in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa to participate in the seventh to ninth sessions of the Working Group in 2001, 2002 and 2003. In addition, the Office of the High Commissioner, with Minority Rights Group International, a non-governmental organization, organized a training workshop on minority rights in May 2003. Minority representatives received training on the United Nations human rights system. Non-governmental organizations shared their experience of advocacy and networking with a view to effectively work with United Nations bodies, in particular the Working Group on Minorities. Non-governmental organizations and minority representatives have been provided with an opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Governments at meetings of the Working Group. The Office of the High Commissioner wishes to continue this programme in 2004. 18. The United Nations Guide for Minorities has been used as a basic training tool. Since its publication in 2001, the Guide has been utilized in training components of regional meetings, which have provided both substantive and practical guidance for regionally based non-governmental organizations on how to better utilize the United Nations systems to advance the protection of minority rights. A new pamphlet on national institutions is presently under preparation for the inclusion in the Guide. It will be aimed at providing minorities with information on how they may work effectively with national institutions in their countries, where they exist, and to explain how national institutions can be engaged in protecting minority rights. 19. The participation of minority representatives of developing countries in the work of the Working Group has also been supported through the organization of regional seminars. At the previously mentioned Gaborone and Chiang Mai seminars, the concepts of “minorities”, “ethnic groups”, “ethnic minorities” or “indigenous peoples” were thoroughly discussed and acknowledged as complex issues within the African and Asian regions. Other issues of concern identified related to the lack of respect for the principle of self-identification; the absence of recognition of minorities; the lack of respect for the principle of non-discrimination; and a failure within accounts of history to appreciate the contribution of cultural diversity and the pluralism of communities existing in society. 20. At the ninth session, in May 2003, strengthening the Working Group’s regional focus was strongly supported by participants, as was the organization of regional meetings for moving the protection and promotion of minority rights forward at the regional level. Appreciation was also expressed for the efforts made by the Working Group to provide a space for dialogue with Governments on minority issues and as a forum drawing on expertise on minority issues for the preparation of useful reports and studies, especially of a thematic nature, including intercultural education, 8