building peace and security across all dimensions.59 Age is a prohibited ground of discrimination in various contexts, falling under “other status”, as provided in international instruments.60 UN Member States have endorsed principles aimed at ensuring the full and active participation of young people in society and have recognized inequalities in access to education and employment for minority youth.61 The Council of Europe has recommended that member States improve young people’s access to rights, noting that young people are among the most vulnerable groups in society, including as a result of unemployment, discrimination and social exclusion.62 Alongside efforts to ensure that all policies are gender-sensitive, States should take account of existing economic and social inequalities experienced by specific groups in laws, policies and practice63, and should assess the implications for people of different genders and for young people of policies and programmes to promote the social and economic participation of minorities. States should undertake targeted measures to promote the social and economic inclusion of minority women, youth, the elderly and persons with disabilities and should involve them in decision-making regarding such efforts. 7. States should address barriers to full and effective social and economic participation caused by the inability to demonstrate or acquire a citizenship. This should include taking all available measures to end statelessness, such as ensuring that no child is born stateless, implementing proper birth registration, ensuring equal access to documentation, and removing any ethnic, religious, linguistic or gender discrimination from citizenship laws. Social and economic rights, like other human rights, are to be enjoyed by all, regardless of citizenship status.64 While some rights may be confined to citizens, differential treatment should be in pursuit of a legitimate aim and proportional to 59 63 64 OSCE, Ministerial Council Declaration on “Youth” (Basel 2014); OSCE, Ministerial Council Declaration on “Youth and Security” (Belgrade 2015); OSCE, Ministerial Council Declaration on “the Role of Youth in Contributing to Peace and Security Efforts” (Milan 2018). CESCR, General Comment No. 20 on “non-discrimination”, paragraph 29 (2009). World Programme of Action for Youth, UN Declaration of Intent on Youth (1995). CoE, Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)7 and explanatory memorandum on young people’s access to rights. CESCR, General Comment No. 16: The Equal Right of Men and Women, paragraph 8. CESCR, General Comment No. 20: Non-discrimination, paragraph 30. 28 Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life 60 61 62