FORUM ON MINORITY ISSUES SECOND SESSION Minorities and Effective Political Participation 12 and 13 November 2009 Palais des Nations, Geneva SUMMARY BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE FORUM Ms. Barbara Lee, Member of U.S. Congress Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007, a forum on minority issues has been established to provide a platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues pertaining to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as well as thematic contributions and expertise to the work of the independent expert on minority issues. The Forum shall identify and analyze best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The Forum meets annually for two working days allocated to thematic discussions. The independent expert on minority issues, Ms Gay McDougall, shall guide the work of the Forum, prepare its annual meetings and report on its thematic recommendations to the Human Rights Council. The second session of the Forum took place on 12 and 13 November 2009 in Room XX at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Ms. Barbara Lee, member of the United States House of Representatives, was appointed as Chairperson of the Forum for this second session focusing on: "Minorities and Effective Political Participation". As the only United Nations meeting relating to minority issues, the Forum offers a unique opportunity for engagement and dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders including representatives of Member States, United Nations specialized agencies and human rights treaty bodies, inter-governmental and regional organizations, as well as nongovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions, academic and experts and civil society on minority issues. In addition to this wide range of stakeholders, this session of the Forum brought together members of minority populations from all regions of the world, who were either elected officials or had been candidates at national or local levels, engaged in political parties, or who were actively engaged in developing programs to encourage greater participation of minorities in the political process. Over 500 individuals were accredited from all categories to participate in this second session of the Forum, including more than 80 1