discriminatory treatment by law enforcement authorities all disproportionately affects members of minority groups. In 2005, OHCHR’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) issued General Recommendation XXXI on the Prevention of Racial Discrimination in the Administration and Functioning of the Criminal Justice System. As part of strategies to be developed to prevent racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system, CERD recommended, inter alia, promotion of proper representation of persons belonging to racial and ethnic groups in the police and the system of justice and recruitment and promotion in the judicial system of persons belonging to various racial or ethnic groups. Limited degree of minority representation in the work of the law enforcement agencies and to the existence of significant challenges to these agencies’ ability to effectively perform their duties in a multiethnic environment. Achieving progress in minority participation in law enforcement and capacity building of law enforcement staff is important in strengthening the confidence of minority communities in the law enforcement system. Such confidence is indeed essential for the development of trust between state institutions and minority communities. In 2008, OHCHR organized an expert meeting on integration with diversity in policing. The OHCHR invited 10 professionals from the police service of different regions and countries of the world (Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Hungary, India, Ireland, Nigeria, Pakistan, Samoa and South Africa) to participate in the meeting as experts and deliver presentations focused on sharing of good experiences and lessons learned in relation to inclusion with diversity in policing. Regarding dialogue and co-operation with minority communities, community policing, with its many models, was identified as a crucial concept for this topic. 1. Minority groups’ vulnerability and exposure to arbitrary and/or discriminatory exercise of police powers As outlined by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, the practice of racial and ethnic profiling in law enforcement constitutes a violation of human rights for the individuals and groups targeted by these practices as it is fundamentally discriminatory in nature and expands the discrimination already suffered as a result of membership in an ethnic or minority group. Racial and ethnic profiling violates multiple human rights, including the right to live free from discrimination, the right to equality before the law, the right to personal freedom and security and the right to the presumption of innocence. This is particularly important in the context of the fight against terrorism. 12 2. Measures that mitigate the disproportionate impact of discriminatory law enforcement practices As the Special Rapporteur warned, while training and awareness-raising is a positive step in the right direction, they cannot alone eradicate profiling by law enforcement. Enacting specific legislation outlawing the practice of racial and ethnic profiling and gathering of law enforcement data, including statistics collected according to ethnicity and race, are essential measures in proving and combatting the existence and the extent of racial and ethnic profiling. The adoption of codes of conduct by law enforcement bodies that prohibit the use of 12 Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Mutuma Ruteere. A/HRC/29/46, 20 April 2015. Page 5 of 11