At this point, allow me also to commend the work of all Special Procedures mandate–holders, including the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, for addressing specific minority concerns in their substantive reports, communications and official country visits, including in the area of education and the language rights of minorities. I welcome the topics of the Forum’s four thematic panels, on the importance of recognizing minority language education as a human right, on public policies, legislation and institutional initiatives in this regard, on educational methods and approaches that promote education in and teaching of minority languages, as well as on empowerment of minority women and girls through access to quality education, in particular minority language education, in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international instruments. The Forum invites us to constructively engage in the discussions that will take place in this room. The interactive, inclusive and universal character of this Forum is the foundation of its strength and importance. A potential that can be fully realized with the relentless commitment of all those actively engaged in the promotion and protection of the rights of minorities, and in particular the tireless work of civil society organizations and human rights defenders around the world, often at risk of their own lives and their families. I would like to reconfirm the Council’s commitment to protect all those individuals who cooperate with the United Nations and its mechanisms against any act of intimidation, harassment or reprisal. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you all a fruitful dialogue over the next two days and invite you to constructively share ideas and experiences with the view to effectively contributing to the formulation of concrete recommendations which will lead to the implementation of tangible legislative and policy initiatives. Thank you.