A/HRC/FMI/2008/1 page 2 1. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work Venue 1. Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15, the first session of the Forum on Minority Issues will be held in Geneva on 15 and 16 December 2008. 2. The Forum will have before it the provisional agenda contained in the present document to consider for adoption. A tentative schedule of work for the session is contained in annex I. Opening meeting 3. The Forum may wish to consider the following scenario with regard to the structure of the opening meeting. The independent expert on minority issues will open the session and make a statement. Statements would then be made by the Chairperson of the Forum on Minority Issues and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, followed by a video message by the Assistant-Director General for Education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Documentation 4. A list of documents for the session is provided in annex II. In addition to normal distribution, official documents for the session will be made available on the Human Rights Council website at the address http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/forum.htm. 2. International and regional human rights frameworks and core principles 5. At the sessions, participants will have an opportunity to make brief presentations and comments based on the draft recommendations that they have before them. After the presentations, there will be an open discussion during which all participants will be invited to contribute. 3. Essential requirements for an effective education strategy 6. Issues for presentation and discussion could include budgetary allocations for education services to minorities; legislation to implement education rights and to eliminate discrimination; the recruitment of teachers to work in minority schools; and unlawful policies and practices of segregation. 4. Equal access to quality education for minorities 7. Issues for presentation and discussion could include the principle of non-discrimination; school locations; dropout rates; school enrolment for displaced persons or members of nomadic or semi-nomadic groups; and access to education for women and girls.