A/HRC/25/56 3. Statements 25. The Independent Expert issued additional public statements, many jointly with other mandates, to highlight issues of concern involving minorities.6 These included: on 29 March, calling on all parties in Bangladesh to cease violence, including against the Hindu minority, following large-scale protests across the country in February 2013; on 8 April, a statement to mark International Roma Day, calling for political and legislative commitments to be implemented in practice to bring much needed changes into the lives of Roma; on 4 May, she initiated a joint statement calling for greater protection of people living with albinism, recognizing that their lifelong stigmatization and marginalization is extreme and noting concern over attacks against them; on 13 May, calling on the Iranian authorities for the immediate release of seven Baha’i leaders nearing the fifth anniversary of their arrests, whose detentions were declared arbitrary by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2008. 26. On 29 October, the Independent Expert issued a statement “Roma in Europe: Guilty until proven innocent?” relating to the removal of children from their Roma families and accusations of child abduction against Roma by authorities and the media. On 21 November, a statement was issued regarding the Dutch celebrations of the arrival of Sinterklaas and his servant, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), which perpetuates negative stereotypes of Africans and people of African descent. The Government was urged to support and facilitate an open debate in Dutch society by establishing a dedicated platform for this discussion, with a view to identify steps that might respond to the views and concerns of all. On 25 November a statement related to a decision of the Government of Malaysia to ban a Catholic publication from using the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God, warning that it violates the rights of religious minorities. On 19 December, a statement on Central African Republic urged all sides to step back from the brink of all-out sectarian conflict and an immediate and unconditional halt to the violence and attacks against civilians. E. Update on the Forum on Minority Issues 27. The Independent Expert is required in resolution 19/23 of March 2012 to guide the sessions of the Forum on Minority Issues, prepare its annual meetings and to report its recommendations to the Council. On 26 and 27 November 2013, the sixth annual session of the Forum took place in Geneva with a thematic focus on guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities. 28. More than 500 delegates participated, representing Member States from all regions, United Nations mechanisms, treaty bodies and specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations, regional organizations, national human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations and including academics and experts on minority issues. Interventions addressed the many challenges facing religious minorities, provided information about legislation, policies and practices for the protection of their rights, and presented proposals for solutions to problems experienced by religious minorities. Recommendations for guaranteeing the rights of religious minorities emanating from the Forum will be presented to the Council at its twenty-fifth session. 6 8 Links to the Independent Expert’s press releases can be found on her webpage, www.ohchr.org/en/issues/minorities/iexpert/pages/ieminorityissuesindex.aspx.