ultimate goal of equal access to quality education and to equal achievement outcomes. Disproportionate educational outcomes along racial, ethnic or religious lines must be considered evidence of discrimination that implicates state responsibility for the promotion and protection of these rights. The Durban Programme of Action adopted in 2001 urged States “to ensure equal access to education for all in law and in practice, and to refrain from any legal or any other measures leading to imposed racial segregation in any form in access to schooling”. We have also learned that enforced segregated schools not only violates the rights of minorities but also robs the entire society of its best opportunity to foster social cohesion and respect for a diversity of views and experiences. Distinguished Participants, This Forum will seek to provide concrete and tangible outcomes in the form of thematic recommendations of practical value to all stakeholders. Therefore, a set of draft action-oriented recommendations has been made available to all participants. It will constitute the basis for discussions during the two-day session. Nearly 40 experts, most of whom are themselves minorities, selected on the basis of their expertise in the field of education for members of minority groups and their regional representation, will make presentations under the various agenda items. Discussions under each agenda item will then be open to all participants according to requests to be placed on the speakers list. Interventions must be limited to 3 minutes and be focused on the draft Recommendations and: a) b) c) the identification of challenges and problems facing minorities and States; the identification of good practices in relation to minorities and education; and the consideration of opportunities, initiatives and solutions. Given the principal nature of this Forum and a platform for dialogue, we will not seek to negotiate the provisions of the Recommendations with a view toward adoption of the Recommendations by this Forum. Rather as called for in resolution 6/15, the thematic Recommendations will be reported to the Human Rights Council in my upcoming annual report. Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation to all of you, experts, government officials, representatives of the Treaty Bodies, UN Specialized Agencies and civil society representatives, for participating in this inaugural session of the Forum on Minority Issues.