of the Forum are possible, he highlighted the Forum’s singular aspects within the UN human rights system, such as broad civil society access, equal speaking time for states and NGOs, and non-hierarchical seating arrangements. He appreciated the strong participation of both civil society organizations and state representatives, emphasizing the challenges faced by civil society to participate in the Forum as well as the importance for Member States to listen to the discussions. While some States heard challenging perspectives, he reminded them of the role of the Special Procedures, including through country visits, in verifying facts about minority rights. Addressing questions about his legitimacy as a Special Rapporteur due to being a white male, Prof. Levrat asserted that legitimacy should be judged by his work’s outcomes. Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur recalled key statements from Member States, such as the Russian Federation’s support for minority rights as the foundation for the peaceful coesxistence of states and peoples, and Hungary’s multilateral approach to minority issues. He also mentioned that Bangladesh’s representatives describe the Government’s openness to journalists investigating human rights concerns and expressed his willingness to undertake a country visit. Summarizing some key recommendations from the panellists and form the floor, he underscored the importance of preserving diverse societies, the need for transparency to address new technologies’ role in perpetuating discrimination against persons belonging to minorities, and equal dignity for all minority groups. Concluding, he expressed gratitude to the Secretariat, the Chair, and the interpreters, and invited ongoing engagement with his mandate throughout the year. The Chairperson of the Forum Ms. Anastasia Crickley, expressed gratitude to the interpreters, signers, security, and those behind the scenes of the Forum who participated in the smooth running of the session. She also thanked all participants for their cooperation and flexibility. Ms. Crickley emphasized the value of the space provided by the Forum, encouraging the UN to continue to support it in a sustainable way that would provide more opportunities for diverse participation, particularly for individuals and organizations unable to attend due to visa or resource challenges. She called for the UN to continue supporting safe spaces for dialogue, urging everyone to prioritize safety and avoid actions that could endanger participants, notably through reprisals. Underlining that theme of the Forum on minority representation and self-representation is both important and timely, she stressed the importance of respecting the rights of minorities, especially in public spaces, and expressed appreciation for the contributions of panellists throughout the Forum. She highlighted the need for political will at all levels to implement the actions discussed, advocating for listening and thinking outside the box to address challenges in a new way. She tanked the participating states for their participation and willingness to ensure that the conditions for the Forum to facilitate inclusion of diverse and challenging views were created and maintained. In closing, Ms. Crickley emphasized the importance of intersectional approaches and greater representation from other entities, such as various UN agencies, underrepresented regional groups, and local authorities. She called for the ongoing and targeted responses which human rights issues need to be stepped up at this challenging time as we as for the mainstreaming of 13