Intervention of L.A. Ms. Laura Dupuy Lasserre Ambassador (Uruguay) President of the Human Rights Council Opening of the fourth session of the Forum on Minority Issues Tuesday November 29, 2011, 10:00 a.m. Palais des Nations, Room XX Chairwoman of the Forum, Madam High Commissioner for Human Rights, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to address you this morning at the opening of the fourth session of the Forum on Minority Issues on the theme "Ensuring the rights of women belonging to minorities". First, I would like to warmly welcome Ms. Graciela Dixon, Judge of the Supreme Court of Panama, who has graciously accepted the important task of chairing this period of sessions. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the representatives of Member States, specialized agencies, representatives of the bodies of human rights treaties, international and regional organizations, national human rights institutions as well as non-governmental organizations, academics and experts. Also, I welcome all women belonging to minorities around the world that are gathered here today, and in some cases, have traveled far to share their personal experiences with other participants of the Forum, providing the richness of its first-hand knowledge in this important meeting. It is also transcendent to have the presence of men belonging to minority groups from all regions of the world, as their contributions to the discussions of this forum will be crucial, especially in view of its central role in efforts to ensure the rights of women and girls who belong to minorities. I take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Rita Izsak on his appointment as independent Expert on minority issues and wish you success in carrying your mandate. Unfortunately, Ms. Iszák may not be physically present with us the day today, but her absence at this meeting is due to the merriest of family reasons. We will have the opportunity to listen to her through a recorded statement and I am confident she will follow closely the discussions. I would also like to express the sincere gratitude of Human Rights Council to the former head of the mandate, Ms. Gay McDougall, who has led successfully the work of this Forum during its first three sessions and that through its strong commitment , she has managed to establish a very high level for this annual meeting. 1