relevant human rights mechanisms including the treaty bodies, member states and minority groups. The High Commissioner gave a history of the protection of minorities in the United Nations’ human rights programme. She expressed her satisfaction that the Human Rights Council has a dedicated Special Procedures mechanism to address minority issues, as well as from now on, a Forum where all concerned can meet and discuss recommendations to improve the situation of minorities worldwide. The High Commissioner stressed that the implementation of international human rights instruments requires that appropriate channels for the protection and promotion of human rights at national and local levels be established. Whatever is done at the international level has to be accompanied by the development of strong capacities at the national level. Video message from the Assistant-Director General for Education, UNESCO, Mr. Nicholas Burnett The Assistant Director General for Education started by recalling that as this forum opens, millions of children and adults remain deprived of their right to education. He noted that there has been notable progress towards access to universal education since 2000: there are 40 million more children in primary school than in 1999; some of the poorest countries in the world have introduced ambitious policies to ensure the right to education. But he also highlighted that progress is uneven: the foremost challenge is to make education more inclusive. The Assistant Director General for Education underlined that the right to education is at the heart of UNESCO’s mission of ensuring “full and equal opportunities for education for all.” It is crucial to monitor this right and to work together to intensify normative action at the national level to ensure that minorities have access to, and complete a good quality primary education. He expressed his confidence that the Forum will indicate ways forward for promoting and protecting the right to education of minorities, shed light on key areas for action, and make a significant contribution to advancing the Education for All agenda to which the majority of countries committed themselves in 2000. Item II - International and Regional Human Rights Frameworks and Core Principles 2 Vernor Munoz Villalobos, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education began his opening address by recalling that states have specific obligations, including with respect to the right to education. He 2 The full text of the Experts’ presentations is available on the forum’s web site at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/minority/oral_statements_forum_minority_2008.htm 4