IV • Guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls IV. Guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES (Held on 29 and 30 November 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland) Chaired by Ms. Graciela J. Dixon INTRODUCTION 1. The fourth session of the Forum on Minority Issues (held 29-30 November 2011) focused on practical and concrete measures and recommendations aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls. It was informed by and built on the work of the previous three sessions of the Forum relating to “Minorities and the right to education”, “Minorities and effective political participation” and “Minorities and effective participation in economic life”. The Chairperson of the Forum was Graciela Dixon of Panama. The work of the Forum was guided by the independent expert on minority issues, Rita Izsák. The participants, more than 400, included representatives of Governments, treaty bodies, United Nations specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental bodies, national human rights institutions and civil society. Importantly, participants also included several representatives of minority communities from all regions of the world. 2. In accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 6/15, the present document contains the recommendations that emanated from the fourth session of the Forum, which sought to provide concrete and tangible outcomes in the form of thematic recommendations of practical value to all stakeholders. These action-oriented recommendations are aimed at increasing the role of minority women within the State while enabling them to maintain their own identity and characteristics, thus promoting the good governance and integrity of the State. 3. In addition to the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and the commentary thereon, the recommendations are based on other international and regional human rights Compilation of Recommendations of the First Four Sessions 2008 to 2011 45 WOMEN AND GIRLS I.