16th session on the UN Forum on Minority Issues Concluding Remarks by Ms Elena Lazar, Co-Chair of the Forum Thank you for giving me back the floor. I would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for his presence and insightful concluding remarks. We have now come to the end of the 16th session of this Forum and it is time for drawing some conclusions. But before doing so, both chairpersons wish to thank for the opportunity which we were given to co-preside this 16th session of the Forum. We would also like to thank all participants for their remarkable contributions. We believe we have had fruitful discussions on all topics and discerned relevant good practices. We would equally like to present our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat, interpreters and colleagues who made the running of this event smooth. We have also prepared some concluding remarks – I will begin, and Petra will continue. Turning to the conclusions, I would underscore the following: 1. In an evolving global society in which questions of diversity intersect with social and economic considerations, ensuring the effective participation of persons belonging to minorities in social and economic life has become even more pertinent. 2. At international level, there is a discernible gap in addressing several problems encountered by persons belonging to minorities, especially persons in vulnerable situations, in the realization of social and economic rights . Many difficult instances have been reported in these two intense days along with some solutions to overcome them. We take note of all of them. It is indeed saddening to hear all these testimonies about abuses and discriminatory practices towards persons belonging to minorities. 3. However, there are no quick fixes and there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but very much adapted to the social and political realities in each