Promote reconciliation: Where crises have led to conflict between minorities or with majorities, international actors could assume a role in supporting reconciliation between the government and minority groups, where requested. It is a difficult task to restore confidence in the legitimacy of national unity but respect for minority rights is an essential element of any programme of reconciliation and sustainable peace. The reconstruction can consider the demand for new or improved structures for minority participation in decisionmaking, including establishment of some form of regional or cultural autonomy where appropriate and a national representative body on minorities where necessary. This can also be a feature of any post-conflict constitutional reform, along with more general protection measures for minorities. There is no one-size-fits-all approach but ensuring the basic minimum protection of minority rights to exist, to non-discrimination, to protection of identity and to participation are the guiding principles to inform policy and institutional responses. Reconciliation processes after ethnic or religious civil conflicts are extremely challenging. Such conflicts may stem from long historical grievances and in the worst cases will entail gross human rights violations and even genocide. New governments may prefer a strategy of building a new national identity that officially recognizes no distinctions between communities as a means of preventing future inter-communal violence. In such cases, it is important to be sensitive to the healing process that is behind such strategies, while still working to ensure basic minority rights protection. There is also a tendency in post-conflict situations for only those minorities directly party to the conflict to be supported in the rehabilitation process. Smaller minorities might be overlooked, even though they have usually suffered greater marginalisation in the conflict and been the targets of violence and blame by all parties. Smaller minorities might also have difficulty in accessing relief efforts on an equal basis after natural disaster because of discrimination or the distance to locations where they live. Minority women might not have equal opportunities to participate in peace-building initiatives or adequate support for the peace initiatives they lead. Minority women might also be particularly vulnerable during and after conflict as targets of rape or human trafficking. UNDP could play an important part in advocating for the integration of marginalised minorities and minority women into rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives. Information to prevent crisis: Early Warning Report (EWR) evaluates potential crisis situations. Some reports include analysis of relations between minority and majority groups and provide useful information on points of tension in these relations. The EWRs can be a useful tool. Assist in the return of displaced minorities: The task of supporting return of displaced minority groups has often proven a very difficult and complex issue. The human security of minorities is very uncertain in regions from which they have been forced out, either directly or indirectly. Return and restoration of properties is a high priority for displaced persons. Therefore, reintegrating minorities into multi-ethnic communities will require great sensitivity and commitment on the part of international agencies and governments. Housing and property restoration issues will need to be managed in a fair manner, recognizing that returnees have rights that should be respected. Support could be provided through the provision of transparent information about the process of return and the distribution of resources to support returning families from all minority (and Chapter 4: Minorities in Development 61