Legislative reform: Technical support to governments to review existing legislation for compliance with international standards on non-discrimination and minority rights could be provided. This could be accompanied by strategies for more effective implementation of non-discrimination legislation, such as individual complaints mechanisms that are accessible to all. Constitutional reform is a good entry point for the legislative protection of minorities. Constitutional protection of minorities as distinct communities, or constitutional endorsement of pluralism and multiculturalism within a given State, are important signs of inclusive democratic governance. Constitutional guarantees of protection and promotion of minority rights exist in many countries. Efforts could be made to understand what legal protections for minority rights have been adopted in national laws to give effect to the constitutional provisions. National Legislation for Minorities in Ukraine and Croatia In Ukraine, the 1996 Constitution defines ‘the Ukrainian people’ as “citizens of Ukraine of all nationalities”. The Constitution guarantees for minorities the right of legal equality, the prohibition of discrimination and the right to develop their culture and preserve their ethnic identity. The Constitution also provides for protection against hate crimes. The Constitution lays the foundation for state support for the development of ethnic minorities and obliges local authorities in places of compact minority residence to ensure the implementation of national and regional programmes for minorities’ national and cultural development. In Croatia, the Constitutional Law on National Minorities was adopted in December 2002. The law establishes firm legal protection for national minorities, focusing on a wide range of issues including language, cultural autonomy, religion, associations and media. Importantly, it also outlines strong provisions for public participation by minorities, including reserved seats in government and the establishment of Councils of National Minorities that act as advisory bodies to national, local and regional governments. There is also a National Minority Rights Sub-Committee of the National Human Rights Committee that considers issues pertaining to the exercise of national minority rights as established by the constitution and laws. Chapter 4: Minorities in Development 49