Statement by the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the 4th Session of. the Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues 29-30 November 2011, Geneva Madam Chairperson, My delegation welcomes the unique opportunity provided by this Forum for engagement and dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society, on guaranteeing the rights of minority women. Sri Lanka has a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural social fabric with the co-existence of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher communities. The rights of all peoples are constitutionally safeguarded. With the defeat of terrorism and the onset of peace, the Government has paid special attention to the safeguarding of the rights of women, especially Tamil, and Muslim women, who were impacted by the conflict, and to ensuring their effective participation in economic, social and cultural life. The massive rehabilitation and resettlement drives mobilised by the Government have taken due note of the special needs of women and children and of vulnerable communities displaced and/ or affected by the conflict. National livelihood development programmes such as 'Divi Neguma' specially focus on empowering and enhancing the livelihoods of women. Sri Lanka provides equal , and free access to education to children of all communities. Girl children specially have benefitted from the national policy of the provision of free primary, secondary and higher education. The resulting high levels of attainment in education by women