A/79/169 gaps in conflict prevention approaches by addressing the potential of young people from minority groups for conflict prevention and socioeconomic development. Among other events and seminars, he delivered lectures at the Minority Rights Academy hosted by the Hrant Dink Foundation in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 7 to 9 June; he participated in and delivered a presentation at a conference entitled “Protecting education in minoritized languages and strengthening language rights – how to progress?”, hosted by the European Language Equality Network in Barcelona, Spain, on 14 and 15 June; he delivered a keynote address to participants of the Minority Protection in Europe summer university hosted by the Institute for the Protection of Minority Rights in Budapest, on 8 July; he delivered a presentation at the 2024 Global Minority Rights Summer School hosted by the Tom Lantos Institute in Budapest, on 9 July; and he delivered a presentation at the Summer School of the Eurac Institute for Minority Rights in Bolzano/Bozen, Italy, on 12 July. A. Country visits 5. In 2023, the previous Special Rapporteur conducted an official visit to Tajikistan from 9 to 20 October. In March 2024, the current Special Rapporteur presented the report on the visit of his predecessor (A/HRC/55/51/Add.2) to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-fifth session. 6. In May 2024, the Government of Costa Rica reported that the country could no longer receive the Special Rapporteur for an official visit in the second half of 2024. The Special Rapporteur has sent several requests for an official visit to Colombia, India, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia to be conducted during 2024. B. Communications 7. In 2023, a total of 49 communications were sent solely or jointly by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues. Of those, 37 were letters of allegation, 6 were urgent appeals and 6 were other letters of concern relating to bills, legislation, policies o r practices that did not comply with international human rights law and standards. Of the 49 communications, 41 were sent jointly with other special procedures mandate holders, and 8 communications were issued by the minority mandate holder. With regard to the geographical distribution, 11 of the communications were for the Africa region, 19 for the Asia-Pacific region, 4 for Eastern European countries, 3 for Latin America and the Caribbean and 12 for Western European and other States. 8. From 1 November 2023 to 24 June 2024, a total of 22 communications were sent by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues. Of those, 17 were letters of allegation, 3 were urgent appeals and 2 were other letters of concern relating to bills, legislation, policies or practices that did not comply with international human rights law and standards. With regard to the geographical distribution, 12 of the communications were for the Asia-Pacific region, 2 for Eastern Europe, 1 for the Latin America and Caribbean region and 7 for Western European and other States. C. Forum on Minority Issues 9. The sixteenth session of the Forum on Minority Issues was held in person at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, with measures in place to accommodate online interventions, on 30 November and 1 December 2023. The theme was “Minorities and cohesive societies: equality, social inclusion and socioeconomic participation ”. The event gathered more than 570 participants from 74 countries, including representatives of States, United Nations mechanisms, bodies and specialized 4/20 24-13136