include and promote respect for the languages and traditions of minorities, in parallel to seeking the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination and intolerance against them. Ms. Pamela MacKenzie, Education Consultant, International Network for Development, India and Bangladesh, UK spoke about the issues of curriculum content, design and delivery, drop out rates, mother tongue instruction and sustainability. The Chairperson opened the discussion to the Speakers’ List 12. During the discussion on item VII, participants raised the following issues: content and delivery of the curriculum, including minority language instruction and national legislation with respect to use of minority languages about the importance of constitutional provisions relevance of curriculum and opportunities to learn languages content and delivery of the curriculum with respect to nomadic communities drop out rates and minority language protection access to quality education participation of minority groups the best interests of the child education in emergencies, conflict and post conflict situations disaggregated data and data collection inclusion of a gender perspective affirmative action and positive discrimination prejudices, segregated education detainee education migrant issues the role of the family in the elimination of discrimination that the problem caused by the fact that indigenous peoples and minorities have separate United Nations human rights protection mechanisms training of teachers the context of textbooks special schools and assimilation poverty and other barriers. Item VIII - Concluding remarks The Independent Expert invited several Experts to share their closing remarks. Dr. Bernard Gifford, Professor and Distinguished Resident Fellow, Southern Education Foundation, USA emphasized the use of language that does not put minorities on the defensive, the language of equality. 12 The list of speakers, and when available the full text of their presentations, can be found on the Forum’s web site at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/oral_statements_forum_minority_2008.htm 17