A/HRC/27/29 dismantle structural barriers to the full equal participation of minorities (A/HRC/13/25, para. 6). 71. Inspired by article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities sets out the rights of minorities and establishes that States have an obligation to respect, protect and promote those rights. It stipulates in its article 2.2 that “[p]ersons belonging to minorities have the right to participate effectively in cultural, religious, social, economic and public life”. This provision has been interpreted as including the rights relating to election and to being elected, the holding of public office and full participation in other political and administrative activities as well as through minority associations and free contacts both inside the State and across borders (E/CN.4/Sub.2/AC.5/2005/2, paras. 36–37). 72. In 2009, the Forum on Minority Issues addressed the question of the effective political participation of minorities and adopted a set of recommendations aimed at promoting the full participation of minorities in public and political life (A/HRC/13/25, para. 10). These recommendations include effective efforts by Governments to end discrimination through, inter alia, the creation of independent monitoring and complaints mechanisms to prevent discrimination in voting, vote fraud, intimidation and similar acts that inhibit effective participation in electoral activities. 73. Other mechanisms to support minority political participation involve the institution of proportional representation systems, the adoption of temporary special measures to encourage political parties to provide genuine opportunities to candidates from minorities, and the enactment of positive measures to overcome specific difficulties such as illiteracy, language barriers, poverty or impediments to freedom of movement. 74. More wide-ranging measures are also recommended, such as policy statements from Governments on the values of diversity and non-discrimination, and the development of a national plan of action in association with minorities, which incorporates educational campaigns and temporary special measures to increase participation by minorities in public administration and other areas of public life. 75. The Forum on Minority Issues further agreed that consideration should be given, in appropriate circumstances, to mechanisms for devolving or sharing political power to enable minorities to have a significant and direct impact on matters that directly affect them. It was emphasized, however, that access to meaningful political power should not be dependent on one’s status as a member of a minority group. 76. In 2012, the Secretary-General established the United Nations network on racial discrimination and protection of minorities. The network, which is coordinated by OHCHR, aims to enhance dialogue and cooperation between relevant United Nations departments, agencies, programmes and funds. During its first year of operation, the network developed a guidance note for the United Nations system on how to address racial discrimination and the protection of minorities in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other key standards, drawing from effective practices.47 The guidance note and the action plan that was developed to facilitate its implementation highlight the need for institutional reforms that advance participation by minorities in decision-making and political processes, including within peace negotiations, transitional justice processes, environmental decisionmaking, electoral processes and in constitution-making.48 47 48 16 Guidance Note of the Secretary-General on Racial Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, March 2013. Ibid.