unequal opportunities for political participation and frequently lack adequate employment and income-generating opportunities, social and financial capital, and basic social services. Women are also commonly discriminated against with respect to ownership and inheritance of property. In situations of armed conflict, the vulnerability of women to exploitation and abuse is greatly increased and minority women are often disproportionately affected. For this reason, a gender perspective is of particular relevance while addressing the situation of minorities in a given country, including in their own communities. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) includes special protection for minority children (article 30). In its General Comment No. 6, the Committee on the Rights of the Child noted: “State obligations under the Convention apply to each child within the State’s territory and to all children subject to its jurisdiction (article 2)”. The CRC rights are not limited to children who are citizens of a State party and must be available to all children - including asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant children - irrespective of their nationality, immigration status or statelessness. This is of particular relevance to minority children who may be stateless or lack registration documents, which can increase their vulnerability to abuse, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation. The Committee has also recommended that States parties take steps to ensure the development and implementation of culturally sensitive health, social and education services, including the provision of education in minority languages. Key Messages  Some individuals within minority communities might be marginalised and discriminated against by actors in the group and outside the group  Gender mainstreaming should take account of the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by minority women and girl children. 2.6 MINORITIES EXIST ACROSS BORDERS: Not all minority communities are contained within a single State. In many cases, ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities have kin groups in neighbouring States or in a wider diaspora with which they maintain ties. Some groups, such as pastoralists, also migrate periodically across borders of one or more States. Neighbouring States may also be ‘kin states’, namely, a State where the majority or dominant group shares ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics with minorities in neighbouring countries. The interest of kin states in minorities can have both a positive and a negative impact. Kin states are commonly accused of interfering with state sovereignty in attempting to protect the interests of kin minorities. On the other hand, the interests of kin states in kin minorities may create positive cooperation, in the form of cross-border associations, cultural exchanges, educational support and stronger bilateral ties, all contributing to greater stability and participation. Minorities have also created transnational ties, for example, through cooperation on advocacy, education or cultural exchange. 14 M A R G I N A L I S E D M I N O R I T I E S I N D E V E LO P M E N T P R O G R A M M I N g