play an important role as bridge builders between communities and, as such, should be empowered and supported to foster understanding, collaboration and unity among diverse groups.2 The present Recommendations draw inspiration from the earlier thematic Recommendations and Guidelines and build on the HCNM's conflict prevention toolkit by adding a social and economic perspective. In particular, the Ljubljana Guidelines emphasize that the effective participation of minorities in economic life is a cornerstone of integration. In essence, ensuring equal and effective social and economic participation for every member of society is essential for seamless integration. States should formulate and implement policies in relevant areas – such as education and training, employment, health care, housing, and access to public goods and services – to promote comprehensive social and economic inclusion. The effective participation of persons belonging to national minorities in the social and economic life of the State is as important as their participation in public affairs, as originally laid out in the Lund Recommendations. The Lund Recommendations and the Oslo Recommendations together underpin the right to linguistic freedom in economic life, stating that all persons, including persons belonging to national minorities, have the right to operate private enterprises in the language or languages of their choice. Recommendation 8 of the Bolzano/Bozen Recommendations recognizes that persons belonging to national minorities should be able to establish and maintain free and peaceful contacts across State borders through which they can develop cultural and economic links. Education, as stated in The Hague Recommendations, has a direct impact on a person’s economic potential. Access to quality education determines the level of economic and social inclusion of national minorities. Based on research and the experience of the successive High Commissioners, it is clear that investing in high-quality multilingual education (MLE) in diverse societies contributes to the integration of society and facilitates the building of economic prosperity. 2 4 For practical recommendations, see: UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR), Recommendations of the Forum on Minority Issues at its tenth session “on minority youth: towards inclusive and diverse societies”, Report of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, A/HRC/37/73 (Geneva 2018) (OHCHR, FMI, tenth session). Recommendations on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Social and Economic Life