PART III: OTHER KEY OBLIGATIONS Equality 31. Guarantees of equality and non-discrimination should be interpreted, to the greatest extent possible, in ways which facilitate the full protection of economic, social and cultural rights. 32. In ensuring effective equality in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, Member States must pay particular attention to members of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Such individuals are often disproportionately affected by a failure of the State to ensure economic, social and cultural rightsxii and/or are direct victims of discriminatory laws, policies and customary practices. 33. To ensure realisation of equal access to economic, social and cultural rights States should ensure the provision of basic social services (such as water, electricity, education and health care) and equitable access to resources (such as land and credit) to members of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. 34. The right to equality includes the adoption of special measures for the purpose of securing the adequate advancement of members of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to enable their equal enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. This means that in some cases States will have to take temporary special measures in favour of these groups in order to reduce or suppress conditions that perpetuate discrimination and to realise substantive equality. 35. Such temporary special measures should accelerate the improvement of the position of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to achieve their de facto or substantive equality, and to effect the structural, social and cultural changes necessary to correct past and current forms and effects of discrimination, as well as to provide them with compensation. Consequently, such measures should not result in the maintenance of separate rights for different groups and should be discontinued after their intended objectives have been achieved. 36. Patterns of inequality based on race, ethnicity and religion are endemic to the region and require comprehensive attention in national policies. 37. Due to entrenched patterns of sex/gender discrimination, women often do not enjoy equality in relation to economic, social and cultural rights. States must abolish those customary and traditional rules and practices which are major obstacles to the equal enjoyment of rights by women and girls. 38. States should recognise and take steps to combat intersectional discrimination based on a combination of (but not limited to) the following grounds: sex/gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, political and other opinion, sexuality, national or social origin, property, birth, age, disability, marital, refugee, migrant and/or other status. 16