B. Structures and settings to improve the situation of minorities       112  Are minority groups organized in the country? Have women and men equal access to organizational structures and mechanisms that are representative of minorities, such as NGOs working to promote the rights of minorities? Is there any particular neutral setting or space for dialogue between minority representatives and government officials at the central and/or local levels and is there any room for the UN Country Team to promote their establishment and/or strengthening? What are the main actions currently in place in the country (Government, international community, civil society) to promote and protect the rights of minorities as set forth in the UN Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities? Is there any specific mechanism for the collection of disaggregated data, including on the access to education, housing and health care and health conditions that could independently reflect the realities faced by minorities in the country? Do sex and age disaggregated data exist? Has the UN Country Team established a mechanism (including any thematic group) or policy to consult with minorities and address their concerns? Does the CCA include any particular reference to the situation of minorities? If so, have their situations and concerns been included in the UNDAF for support? Does your respective Country Programme pay attention to the situation and concerns of minorities? Have the particular needs of minorities been analysed in the preparation of the appeals (e.g. for Donor and Agency funding for Consolidated Appeals Processes and Common Humanitarian Action Plans) for those countries where their human rights and humanitarian situations are particularly challenging? C. Identifying priorities to address the situation of minorities The identification of priority areas for action depends on the urgency of the situation and the kind of responses required. In situations where there are serious human rights violations or in armed conflicts, priority areas will need to be identified for immediate action. However, this is not a substitute for a more general protection framework covering a wide range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Protection of existence of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities:      Have there been historical cases of mass violence, atrocities, sexual violence, or acts of genocide perpetrated against minorities? Are there cases in which members of minority groups are being physically expelled or forcibly deported from the country? Is there any specific situation where minority groups and/or their members are particularly excluded or targeted? Are there situations in which minorities are suffering as a direct or indirect result of the historical past and does this legacy still impact on their lives or livelihoods? Are the cases of violence against minorities systematically investigated and, if not, why not? What are the main causes of violence against minorities? 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