5 voluntary fund. Many recommendations clearly show this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The only new development has been the organisation of the regional forums, and that was done under my mandate as an independent expert and there is no guarantee these will continue after my mandate comes at an end next year despite its increasing the accessibility and visibility for so many of you around the world. - The most emphatic recommendation not only coming out of this forum but from all regional forums was about the need for a legally binding treaty on minority rights with an associated oversight mechanism which would guide both states and nonstate actors. It was widely regarded as the best possible way forward for all major stakeholders since it would provide the opportunity to channel minority activism, diplomacy and expertise into a systematic, long-term conversation about ways to respond to the