of the country. She then gave a few concrete examples of how minority women can be affected by the denial of citizenship in several ways in the implementation of all their other human rights, including with regard to acquisition, change and retention of nationality and the conferral of nationality on their children. She concluded by calling on the Government to cease to apply existing resolutions and administrative practices that have an effect to exclude and breach the rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent. Ms. Maria Vicenta Andrade Chalán, from UN Women, gave a brief overview of the international and national legal framework with regards to the rights of persons belonging to minorities, after which she mentioned that there is still a huge gap between the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies, and that this gap is even greater in relation to minority women, hence the importance of taking into account the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that they might face. In her recommendations, she mentioned the central role that UN Women should play in the creation of a network and the establishment of focal points in different United Nations agencies with a view to addressing the intersection between gender and intercultural approaches, and paying particular attention to cases of double and triple discrimination. She also mentioned the need to strengthen capacity-building initiatives and training of ombudsmen, judges and administrators with a view to increasing their knowledge of the international and national legal framework for the protection of women belonging to minorities and the elimination of the various remaining forms of discrimination. Discussion The Chairperson opened the floor for discussion12. During the discussion under this second segment of Item V, participants raised the following issues with regard to the effective participation of minority women and girls in economic, cultural and social life: • • • • • The importance of recognition of minorities within a State as a very first step to protect their economic, social and cultural rights. The low life expectancy for some minority women. The heightened risk of trafficking, sexual harassment and sexual violence for some minority women. The need to increase capacity-building programmes in relation to the right to land ownership and the fact that nationalization of land cannot be implemented without recognising the rights of minorities on the land. The need to provide fair and just compensation in case of nationalization of lands that belong to minority groups. The importance of conducting sensitization programmes on the rights of minorities. 12 The list of speakers, and when available the full text of their presentations, can be found on the Forum’s web site at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/session4.htm 20