A/HRC/7/19/Add.4 page 22 enjoyment of other rights, are not distinctive features of Lithuania. However, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary need to tackle these issues more effectively in order to adequately comply with domestic legislation and international instruments. 79. The Roma community in Lithuania, as in many European countries, is a particularly vulnerable group, and subject to profound discrimination - not sanctioned by laws, but deeply rooted in the minds of many citizens - and thus requires concerted efforts by authorities at the national and local level. Apart from the provision of basic rights, especially good housing conditions, education and health, Lithuanian authorities should focus on broader actions that target not only the community itself, but society as a whole. One of the central causes of the marginalization of Roma citizens is intolerance and a lack of acceptance by society at large, which can only be redressed through a national strategy to promote cultural diversity and acceptance of multiculturalism. This strategy would also include activities that promote Roma culture as an enriching component of the national culture and deepen social and economic interactions between the Roma community and the population at large. 80. Lithuania, like several Eastern European and in particular Baltic countries, is currently at a turning point in history. Its society is profoundly marked by the historic legacy of Soviet domination and occupation, which affected, albeit to different degrees, all Baltic countries. The central challenge it faces is to build a democratic, egalitarian and interactive society, taking into account both the necessity to reassert the continuity of its national identity - shaken and eroded by occupation but deeply rooted in past history - and the recognition and respect for the rights of its minorities, comprising not only historically discriminated-against communities such as the Roma, but also the Russians and other minorities that arrived during the occupation. This new identity tension, with its political and cultural expressions, requires political vision, legal vigilance and cultural creativity to foster among communities a long-lasting sense of belonging and living together. Two principles should guide this process: respect for the historical truth and non-discrimination against minorities. History and geography are both central in this context. National and regional factors are particularly relevant as far as the Russian communities are concerned. The full respect of their rights - in terms of citizenship, language, culture and the eradication of any form of discrimination - is closely linked to their involvement and participation in the process of construction of a new multicultural nation that is fully respected by all countries in the region. As Lithuania’s economy becomes more exposed to the world, a steady influx of new waves of migrants, mostly non-European, will start. A mounting challenge that Lithuania faces is therefore to prepare its society for the arrival of different peoples bearing their own ethnicity, traditions, cultures and customs. The promotion of multiculturalism is therefore the most appropriate way to transform this challenge into an opportunity of enriching the Lithuanian society with more diversity and intercultural dialogue. V. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR 81. State authorities in the executive, legislative and judiciary powers should highlight their strong political will and commitment to fight all forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia in Lithuanian society and their vigilance about new challenges that arise from growing migration, multiculturalism and identity changes. It is especially important to firmly condemn any racist or xenophobic action or discourse, including by political parties and the media.