A/71/254 points regarding the inclusion of minorities in humanitarian relief work. The Framework specifically notes the importance of diversity, and highlights that through embracing diversity, it is possible to reduce the impact of many other humanitarian problems, including violence, inequitable health care and the negative consequences of disasters. 17 3. International Refugee Law 37. The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugee s and its 1967 Protocol are the key international legal instruments defining international refugee protection obligations, at the global level. The Convention defines a refugee and the r ights attached to refugee status. The 1967 Protocol subsequently removed the temporal found in the 1951 Convention. Indeed, the core principles of refugee protection as defined by the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol therefore provide specific protection on the basis of persecution because of minority status. 38. The Convention also stipulates in its article 3 that “Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin”. Therefore, refugees arriving in a country and becoming a minority in the host country should be protected against discrimination as to race, religion or country of origin. 39. UNHCR has also developed policies and materials that provide further guidance regarding refugees on how to ensure that refugee protection responses are participatory, non-discriminatory, and sensitive to the specific needs of all persons of concern, including the specific needs of members of minority groups. Its Executive Committee (ExCom), comprising over 90 States, adopted in 2005 a General Conclusion on International Protection No. 102 which “acknowledges the important contribution of the age and gender and diversity mainstreaming strategy in identifying, through a participatory approach, the protection risks faced by the different members of the refugee community; and encourages UNHCR and its NGO partners to continue to roll out and implement on the ground this important strategy, as a means to promote the rights and well-being of all refugees, in particular the non-discriminatory treatment and protection of refugee women and refugee children and minority groups of refugees”. 40. UNHCR’s Age, Gender and Diversity policy (2011) specifically addresses diversity, which is understood as referring to “different values, attitudes, cultural perspectives, beliefs, ethnic background, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, health, social status, skill and other specific personal characteristics” (see sect. II.5). It further acknowledges that “women and men belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities or indigenous groups often experience discrimination and marginalization, factors that are compounded in forced displacement situations. Age, gender and other specific factors may expose them to additional protection risks and discrimination. ” It therefore advises UNHCR staff to work closely with minority and indigenous groups to identify the risks they face as well as strategies to mitigate them, whi ch is of fundamental importance (see sect. V.23). __________________ 17 12/25 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “International Federation of Red Cross strategic framework on gender and diversity issues 2013 -2020”, available from www.ifrc.org/Global/Documents/Secretariat/201412/IFRC%20Strategic%20Framework%20on% 20Gender%20and%20Diversity%20Issues-English.pdf. 16-13193