Closing Address, 8th Forum on Minority Rights Issues 1. Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, we nearing the end of two days of intense deliberations. We started yesterday morning with an opening address by President Rucker, President of the UN Human Rights Council, and a statement by Ms Pansieri, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. These two institutions have been crucial to the birth and continued sustenance of the Minority Rights Forum. In creating this space here at the Palais Naciones, State parties are sending a strong message to the world’s ethnic, religious and linguistic communities, that your voices are important and need to be heard. This support from State Parties, many of who heard unpalatable things about their own performance on matters in the criminal justice system, is invaluable, and celebrates the spirit of democracy and freedom that characterizes this forum. The tireless efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner, in keeping minority rights high on the UN agenda, and allocating some dedicated and skilled staff to this process, has been a vital ingredient in the mix that has made this event a success. For many of us these deliberations have lasted two days. For the people who put this programme together with meticulous attention to detail, it has been a much longer quest, and on behalf of every participant, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to each and everyone of you. 2. The topic of this Forum was picked by Special Rapporteur Rita Izsak, on the basis of the issues that have been raised before her, by minorities all around the world. In framing the topic in a manner that was accessible, she has played a key role, providing access and avenues to hear voices otherwise unheard: in actively seeking to channel these voices, in a spirit of progress, into real practice. Ms Izsak, on behalf of the participants here, I sincerely thank you for the work you do with minorities around the world, the positions you adopt, and your relentlessness in pursuing issues to constructive solutions. The role of the Special Rapporteur is a difficult one, Ms Izsak, since you have been charged by the Human Rights Council, with researching and investigating violations that occur. However your attitude, based on the need to encourage genuine dialogue over difficult issues, is appreciated by minorities who look to you for assistance, but also by Member States who understand that constructive dialogues, engaging the force of argument, are far superior to arguments of force. 3. The diversity and extent of voices we have heard has been most striking. At a time when we have, the widest range of media to communicate with each other, we appear to do it least well. Information overload often results in a cacophony of voices and themes, that are hard to tune into, or focus upon. The forum by contrast, has enabled full immersion, to listening to the challenges that minorities face, within the criminal justice system.