Minority Rights Group International (MRG) has been active on behalf of minorities at the national, regional and international levels for over 30 years. It has observer status on the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, consultative status on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and acts as spokesperson for minorities in the EU, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations and the World Bank. It directs the attention of the most important decision-makers to the situation of minority groups, and calls for universal standards for protection of the rights of these communities. MRG supports and promotes reconciliation and conflict resolution initiatives. Working with partners, it provides training on international standards, monitoring systems and the protection of minority rights. Trained participants are encouraged to initiate similar activities at the local level. One of the most important projects of MRG is the annual training seminar in Geneva; the participants later contribute to the United Nations Working Group on Minorities (WGM).