5. States should ensure that national minorities have an equal and effective opportunity to participate in decision-making regarding social and economic affairs policies, which must respect their existing rights, and their participation should substantially inform the design and outcome of the policies. In the experience of the HCNM, when persons belonging to national minorities are unable to participate effectively in decision-making on policies that affect them, this can lead to the adoption of policies that fail to reflect their needs and interests. This can undermine efforts towards integration and contribute to tensions in society. The right of persons belonging to national minorities to effective participation in public affairs, especially in regard to decisions affecting them, is well established in international human rights standards and OSCE commitments.47 Creating conditions for the effective participation of national minorities is an essential part of good governance in a pluralistic society.48 States should ensure that persons belonging to minorities have opportunities to participate effectively in decision-making about social and economic issues in the relevant government structures, as well as through other mechanisms such as consultative and advisory bodies.49 Opportunities should be facilitated through special arrangements, as necessary, such as measures to ensure minority participation in the civil service or to facilitate minority representation in elected bodies as well as in electoral systems.50 “Effective” participation entails that participation should involve genuine opportunities to influence decision-making. Opportunities for effective participation should be available at all levels of government, including at the local and regional levels, where authorities often have direct responsibility for certain social and economic issues. The participation of minorities should feature not only at the policymaking stage, but also during policy implementation and in the assessment of policy outcomes. 47 48 49 50 Inter alia Copenhagen (1990), paragraph 35; UN Declaration on Minorities, articles 2 (2) and (3); and FCNM, article15. FCNM AC, Commentary on Participation, paragraph 8. Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 39; and OHCHR, FMI Recommendations, third session, paragraph 39. OSCE HCNM, The Lund Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Public Life, Recommendation paragraph 6 (1999) (Lund Recommendations); and Ljubljana Guidelines, Guideline 39. Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life 25