Address of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, to the First United Nations Forum on Minority Issues “Minorities and the Right to Education” 15-16 December 2008 Madam Chairperson, Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Colleagues and friends, It is my pleasure to be with you today and to welcome all of you to the inaugural United Nations Forum on Minority Issues. I pledge to you my full support and that of the entire staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights throughout this and future sessions of the Forum. I welcome everyone to the discussion. I welcome H.E. Mr. Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, the President of the Human Rights Council. I welcome Ms. Gay McDougall, the Independent Expert on Minority Issues. I welcome Ms Viktória Mohácsi, Member of European Parliament and the Chair of the Forum on Minority Issues. I welcome Patrick Thornberry, Vernor Munoz Villalobos and the representatives of different Special procedures and Treaty Bodies. I am especially happy to see so many participants representing minorities from all over the world. I encourage all present to participate actively in the proceedings. At the outset, I would like to congratulate Ms. Gay McDougall for her invaluable contributions in fulfilling her mandate as well as for her commitment and tireless efforts in guiding the work of this Forum. During these two days, you will have a unique opportunity to discuss the “Draft Recommendations on Minorities and the Right to Education.” elaborated under the guidance of the Independent Expert. Your deliberations, comments, suggestions, based on your research and practical experiences will shape further the Draft Recommendations and I hope that the contents of the final document will serve as a practical and useful tool which will be used by all relevant human rights mechanisms including the treaty bodies, member states and minority groups as deemed appropriate. Distinguished Participants, Given my personal background, I know first hand the benefits of access to education, as well as the effects that obstacles to such access produce. Despite the efforts and good will of my community, I almost didn't make it as a lawyer, because when I entered university during the apartheid regime everything and everyone was segregated. The registrar actually discouraged