INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION CHEMIN DU POMMIER 5 1218 LE GRAND-5ACONNEX GENEVA (SWITZERLAND) TELEPHONE (41.22) 919 41 50 - FAX (41.22) 919 41 60 - E-MAIL postbox @m aiLipu.org UN Forum on Minorities Geneva, 11 November 2009 Obstacles to effective political participation faced by minorities Remarks by Mr. Anders B. Johnsson, IPU Secretary General Good morning, I welcome this opportunity to speak on the subject of effective political participation of minorities and I thank the Independent Expert on Minorities for her initiative in organizing this Forum. As the Secretary General of the international organization of parliaments, I will focus my remarks on the participation of minorities in parliament. I will address two aspects of effective participation -- gaining access to parliament, and influencing the work of parliament as a member. My remarks are based on interviews with parliamentarians from minority and majority communities which the IPU is carrying out as part of a joint project with the UNDP on inclusive parliaments. While every parliament has a unique history, tradition and modus operandi, I believe that the points that follow hold true for most, if not all, political systems.