A/HRC/16/46 F. International financial institutions: International Monetary Fund, World Bank and regional development banks 56. International financial institutions should ensure that their financial lending and technical cooperation does not result in direct or indirect discrimination against minority groups or violations of other minority rights. Impact assessments of proposed macroeconomic, financial and structural reforms and funding of large-scale Government projects should include attention to the situation of minorities and recommendations for respecting, protecting and fulfilling their rights, including safeguarding their livelihoods and securing their land, property and resources. International financial institutions should urge Governments to take steps to mitigate the effects of the global economic crisis on minorities and to protect minority rights during periods of increased vulnerability. 57. International financial institutions should ensure that programme support initiatives on poverty eradication and social inclusion take full account of and respond to barriers to participation in economic life experienced by minority groups. In-house systems for reviewing strategic plans, lending and country programmes from the perspective of minority rights protection should be established with the effective participation of minority groups. International financial institutions are encouraged to adopt safeguard policies and complaints mechanisms that are easily accessible to minorities. Information on the activities of international financial institutions should be made available to minorities, including through proactive outreach to minority communities, minority media outlets and translation of relevant documents. International financial institutions should promote hiring policies that foster the active recruitment and retention of minority workers. 58. International financial institutions are urged to invest in research to analyse the participation of minorities in economic life. Particular attention could be given to measuring the impact on domestic economic growth of minority exclusion from labour markets and private enterprise, and analysing the impact of economic crises on minorities and approaches to accommodating different development priorities expressed by minority groups. 59. Bilateral and multilateral trade and investment agreements should not restrict the ability of Governments to adopt affirmative action and other special measures aimed at ensuring non-discrimination and full participation of minorities in economic life. The ability of Governments to use a combination of trade and investment policy tolls necessary for them to promote the full participation of minorities in their economies should be supported. Market access by minorities should be monitored to ensure non-discrimination and the adoption of special measures where necessary. The impact of trade policies on minorities should be monitored. G. United Nations agencies and other bilateral and multilateral development agencies 60. Development agencies should work closely with Governments to identify and remedy the root causes of discrimination against minorities that result in economic and social exclusion. All country strategies should reflect mainstreaming of minority issues and minority rights. Consideration should also be given to the effects of intersecting forms of discrimination in all strategies. To this end, development agencies should facilitate the full, effective and meaningful participation of representatives from minority groups, including minority women, in the country strategy development process. This may include holding meetings in regions where 13