Statement by H.E. Laura Dupuy Lasserre President of the Human Rights Council Opening of the fifth session of the Forum on Minority Issues Tuesday, 27 November 2012, 10:00 a.m. Palais des Nations, Salle XX Madam Chair, Madam Deputy High Commissioner for. Human Rights, Distinguished delegates and participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me to address this important gathering once again this year as we open the fifth session of the Forum on Minority Issues that will focus on "Implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities: Identifying positive practices and opportunities". I would like to express my warm welcome to Ms. Soyata Maiga, who has kindly accepted the important task of chairing this session of the Forum and who brings her great experience to these proceedings, including as a Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. I would also like to warmly welcome representatives of Member States, United Nations specialized agencies, representatives of human rights mechanisms and bodies, international and regional organisations, national human rights institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, academics and other experts. I am delighted that once again this year many minority representatives from all regions, including many young human rights advocates, will also participate in the work of this Forum, bringing their wealth of knowledge to the discussions and sharing their personal experiences of the challenges and good practices in the countries where they live. The views and ideas of persons belonging to minorities must be prominent throughout the Forum's proceedings. Twenty years ago, United Nations Member States recognised the gap that existed in minority rights protection and made a pledge to meet the challenges that exist in all regions by unanimously adopting the Declaration on the Rights of National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic