A/67/293 representation and participation is a vital component of improving the quality of institutional attention to minority rights. As previously noted, political participation is both a right of minorities and essential to their achieving wider inclusion and participation in decision-making at the national and local levels; and consequently, Governments should both monitor the participation of minorities and implement mechanisms and institutional arrangements that ensure their representation in political and decision-making bodies at local and national levels. 45. A 2009 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) global survey of national human rights institutions 21 revealed that minorities are poorly represented, with less than half rating their governing body as diverse. It also revealed that minorities are poorly represented as staff at all levels. Minority women are often particularly poorly represented and concrete measures should be taken, including outreach and training initiatives targeted at minorities and specifically at minority women. National institutions should lead by example and ensure that their staff and members fully and publicly reflect the diversity within society. They should be transparent and accountable in their processes to appoint senior representatives. Problems of legitimacy and community trust can result when appointments are considered to have been political or tokenistic and not to have involved minority communities or to have reflected their preferences. 46. Minority staff, including senior representatives and staff at all levels, bring crucial experience, expertise and community contacts and can significantly enhance institutional awareness and capacity on minority issues. They can raise attention to minority issues that may have been neglected, perhaps owing to lack of engagement with minority communities or knowledge of minority situations. They bring insight regarding how to interact with communities and address sensitive cultural or religious concerns, and can articulate the views and perspectives of minorities who would otherwise lack a voice. Minorities may be employed in specialist roles or sections; however, they should not be confined to such roles. 47. Minorities are often underrepresented in the civil service, police and judiciary owing to barriers including institutional racism, discriminatory recruitment practices, poor educational attainment, and psychosocial factors inhibiting them from seeking employment. Measures including targeted recruitment initiatives should be adopted and promoted in the public and private sectors. Minorities should be represented in oversight and regulatory bodies, for example, those relating to the police service. They can have important advisory roles relating to recruitment and policing practices and should be represented in complaints-handling bodies. Representation of minorities in national media and media regulatory and monitoring bodies helps to ensure appropriate treatment of minority issues by and in the media, which can portray minorities in discriminatory, negative or stereotypic ways. B. Accessibility to and for minority communities 48. Disadvantaged minorities are often poorly placed with respect to accessing information and services. Poverty, socioeconomic disadvantages, remote localities, and education or language barriers are obstacles to obtaining services and engaging __________________ 21 16 “Survey on national human rights institutions: report on the findings and recommendations of a questionnaire addressed to NHRIs worldwide” (Geneva, July 2009). 12-45950