UNITED NATIONS • Forum on Minority Issues Acknowledgements The United Nations Forum on Minority Issues takes place each year due to the commitment and hard work of many individuals. Firstly, sincere thanks go to Gay McDougall, the former UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues, for her dedication to making the Forum a success in its first three years, her vision, leadership and commitment. In addition, thanks go to the current Independent Expert, Rita Izsak, who took over the responsibility to guide and prepare the fourth successful session of the Forum. Sincere thanks are also due to the Chairs of the four sessions of the Forum held to-date, Ms. Viktória Mohácsi, Ms. Barbara Lee, Ms. Gita Sen, and Ms. Graciela Dixon, who expertly managed the sessions and ensured that they achieved their objectives and the high expectations set for them. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is sincerely thanked for her unwavering support to the work of the Forum. Special mention and thanks are due to the Secretariat staff of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights who have provided tireless and essential substantive, administrative and logistical support throughout, including, in alphabetical order: Jane Connors, Graham Fox, Karim Ghezraoui, Mélodie Giraudot, Adrijana Grabovac, Khaled Hassine, Karin Lucke, Soussan Raadi-Azarakhchi, Meena Ramkaun, Sylvie Saddier, Kim Turcotte, Lydie Ventre, and Elizabeth Wabuge. The Forum has also benefitted greatly from the assistance and support of numerous other colleagues and collaborators at OHCHR and elsewhere including, in alphabetical order: Michel Buteau, Laura Dolci-Kanaan, June Ray, Elena Kountouri Tapiero, Anti Korkeakivi, Aleksandra Plesko, Belen Rodriguez de Alba, and Safir Syed. Finally, thanks are certainly due to all of the many participants and contributors who attended the meetings of the Forum, shared their experiences and perspectives and helped to inform its work and recommendations, among them the many representatives of minorities from all regions. ii Compilation of Recommendations of the First Four Sessions 2008 to 2011