A/HRC/31/27 promote the participation of minorities in decision-making processes; (d) the implementation and enforcement of provisions on freedom of religion and belief; and (e) measures to tackle prejudices and eradicate racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 57. Other recommendations were made on (a) promoting religious and ethnic tolerance, including through awareness-raising campaigns; (b) strengthening measures aimed at countering hate speech and hate crimes against minority groups; (c) increasing the number of law enforcement officials receiving training specific to human rights and minority groups; (d) strengthening efforts to protect the rights of minorities from discrimination, including discrimination based on multiple grounds; (e) allocating sufficient resources to improve the situation of minorities; (f) ceasing harassment and discrimination by law enforcement officials against minority groups; and (g) measures to ensure the preservation of cultures of minority groups. VII. Conclusions 58. When the United Nations Organization was established 70 years ago, Member States agreed to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. The rights of persons belonging to minorities continue to be undermined nonetheless, in some countries so severely that thousands of individuals belonging to minorities are forced to flee their homes in search of safety and dignity. 59. There is a need to redouble efforts, nationally and through strengthened international cooperation, to protect the rights of persons belonging to minorities. The High Commissioner has an important role to play in these efforts, as demonstrated in the initiatives outlined in the present report, ranging from monitoring human rights violations to empowering minority representatives to claim their rights. Real impact, however, requires concerted efforts. It can only be achieved if, through the United Nations network and other initiatives, the entire United Nations system and regional organizations treat the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities as a core commitment. National, regional and local authorities, together with minority representatives and other partners, must develop more effective laws and policies that protect the rights of persons belonging to minorities, not through isolation, but through enhanced interaction within societies. Politicians and others will therefore have to muster the courage and commitment to speak out against discrimination, hate speech and other efforts made to undermine the human rights of persons belonging to minorities. 13