She highlighted that recurring issues raised in all sessions of the Forum include the need to recognize all minorities within a State and the need for strong anti-discrimination legislation. She also stressed that one of her Office’s thematic priorities is to translate the principles of equality and non-discrimination into reality in the daily lives of all women, including women belonging to minorities, and gave a few examples of the wide range of activities that are directed to the achievement of this goal. In this regard, she also pointed to the need to strengthen her Office’s collaboration with other agencies to improve a system-wide coordination on issues affecting women belonging to minorities. She urged all participants to us the recommendations, disseminate them widely and to give them meaning in their local situation. The High Commissioner mentioned the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the Declaration on Minorities and announced that her Office would be engaging with partners regarding events and activities to promote the Declaration and its implementation globally. H.E. Laura Dupuy Lasserre, the President of the Human Rights Council, welcomed all stakeholders and in particular the minority women and men from around the world who would share their personal experiences. She underlined that the Forum had established itself as one of the main platforms for dialogue on the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities, for sharing best practices and for promoting mutual understanding of minority issues. She welcomed the continuous efforts to give prominence to the voices of persons belonging to minorities, throughout the Forum proceedings. She stressed that the Council has truly benefited from the comprehensive and action-oriented recommendations that have emanated from the Forum and looks forward to receiving the recommendations to be presented by the Independent Expert to the Council in March 2012. She emphasized that the promotion and protection of women’s equality, rights and the fight against violence against women have been central to the work of the Human Rights Council. She encouraged all participants to engage in a truly constructive and inter-active dialogue, to exchange ideas and share experiences, including on obstacles and challenges, as well as on solutions and good practices. She noted the importance for Member States and all stakeholders to translate the Forum recommendations into action. Ms. Rita Izsák, the Independent Expert on minority issues, addressed participants through a video message in which she first commended her predecessor, Ms Gay McDougall, for her dedicated and successful work as Independent Expert and for her expert guidance of the first three sessions of this Forum. . She underlined that the rights of minority women had not received the dedicated attention that is required and that this event would help to put the issues and concerns of minority women more clearly on the agenda of the United Nations. She stressed that girls and women from disadvantaged minorities face unique challenges from the beginning of their lives, and this must be recognized and addressed, not only by Governments, NGOs and other decision-making bodies but also by minority communities themselves. She noted the need to use this meeting to also celebrate the endeavour of minority women, their resilience, their 3