crucial to consistently ensure the active participation of minority representatives from all regions and backgrounds in these proceedings. At this stage, I would thus like to extend my warm welcome to all representatives from religious minorities who are here, some of whom have travelled from very far to be with us for this important gathering, bringing their first-hand knowledge of the issues at stake. I am sincerely looking forward to hearing their voices and to benefitting from their specific experiences in their overall struggle for equality. I am also taking this opportunity to remind us all of the need to ensure that the diversity of opinions and of situations within all groups, including minority groups, shall be heard and taken into account in our proceedings. Such diversity should also be reflected in the recommendations that will be the result of our debate and presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2014. Every single one of us in this room today has a role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of religious minorities and towards ensuring that equality for all is indeed a reality. As it has been consistently underlined by my predecessors, let me reiterate that such a dialogue between all actors is particularly essential in light of the fact that there are clearly no simple answers or one-size-fits-all solutions in this field. While recognising the remaining challenges ahead of us, this gathering is also an opportunity to take stocks of the progress made and to be inspired in our efforts by the positive ideas, success stories and achievements that we will be privileged to hear and to share during these two days. Ladies and Gentlemen, 4