discrimination. She also indicated that minorities may be particularly susceptible to being forcibly displaced within their country or forced to migrate, making them vulnerable to becoming stateless. Madam Bachelet also stated that at the same time stateless people, many of whom are minorities, are more vulnerable to forced displacement and migration. The High Commissioner underlined that this vulnerability is often particularly acute for stateless women who may also be prevented from enjoying a range of human rights, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as children who may also suffer from the denial of education and other fundamental rights. Madam Bachelet stressed the right to a nationality to be a fundamental human right recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in numerous other core international human rights instruments. The High Commissioner emphasized the need for states to take positive steps to combat statelessness for everyone, but notably minorities, who are disproportionately affected by statelessness, such as ensuring access, without discrimination, to birth registration and key documentation for acquiring nationality The Special Rapporteur on minority issues Dr. Fernand de Varennes welcomed participants to the Eleventh session of the Forum on minority issues The Special Rapporteur emphasized the importance of the theme of the Forum: "Statelessness: a minority issue", since according to UNHCR 2017 estimation more than 75% of the world’s stateless people belong to minorities. The Special Rapporteur highlighted the importance of the topic as stateless people are among the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized populations, often unable to defend themselves or their rights. He emphasized that this is sometimes because of their ethnicity, language or religion in addition to not holding any citizenship. The Special Rapporteur stressed the importance of identifying the main causes of statelessness in order to effectively prepare appropriate responses and solutions – and especially to new situations developing into new groups of stateless minorities. Dr. de Varennes noted that unless the main causes of statelessness are identified, it will not be possible in many cases to identify appropriate responses and solutions. The Special Rapporteur noted that unfortunately statelessness is connected to policies, practices or legislation that may result in the denial of the right to a nationality, be arbitrary or in breach of the prohibition of discrimination obligation under international law. He highlighted the importance of giving voice and space to those who could not be at the Forum and raise the visibility and awareness of statelessness as a minority issue. He further emphasized that there needs to be a greater awareness of the heart-breaking human tragedy, the horrors and suffering of millions of men, women and children, and the potential destabilising effects and almost unmanageable humanitarian crisis this can create. He warned against the situations emerging in the near future where there is the risk of millions more new people who belong to minorities being made stateless through the interpretation and application of laws and practices. Dr. de Varennes highlighted that the lack of citizenship means being particularly vulnerable to other restrictions and denial of rights, as well as more susceptibility to the scourge of racism, intolerance and exclusion. The Chair of the ninth session of the Forum on Minority Issues, Ms. Rita IzsákNdiaye emphasized that statelessness is a disturbing worldwide phenomenon which is very often a cause and a consequence at the same time of systematic discrimination of national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. She emphasized the importance of feeling of belonging which 3