governmental organizations, minority representatives and members of the academic community and is increasingly becoming a forum for dialogue on minority issues.
• A series of seminars on particular issues have drawn the attention of the international community to specific issues of relevance to the protection of minorities. Seminars have been held on intercultural and multicultural education and the role of  the media in protecting minorities.
• Inter-agency cooperation on minority protection has led to an exchange of information on minority-related activities and has focused on specific activities and programmes which could be elaborated and implemented jointly, as a means of  pooling financial, material and human resources.

d. Support for victims of  torture
On behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, OHCHR admin- isters a Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture with the advice of a Board of Trustees. The Fund was established by General Assembly resolution 36/151 of 16 December 1981. It receives voluntary contributions from Govern- ments, non-governmental organizations and individuals for distribution, through established channels of assistance, to non-governmental organiza- tions providing medical, psychological, legal, social, financial, humanitarian or other assistance to victims of torture and members of their families. If suffi- cient funding is available, relevant training and seminars for health and other professionals specializing in assisting victims of  torture can also be financed.
Applications for grants have to be submitted by 31 December for analysis by the secretariat of the Fund. Admissible applications are examined by the Board of Trustees at its annual session in May. The Board adopts recommen- dations for approval by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on behalf of the Secretary-General. The grants are paid in the July/August period. Beneficiaries are required to provide satisfactory narrative and financial reports on the use of grants by 31 December. Until satisfactory reports on the use of  previous grants are received, no new grants can be considered.
For application forms and guidelines, contact the Trust Fund Unit of SSB/OHCHR by fax  (41 22) 917 9017 or see http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/9/vftortur.htm#mandate for further information.