Mr President, distinguished delegates, It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this sixth session of the Forum on Minority Issues in my capacity as Independent Expert on minority issues. As I highlighted in my very first annual report to the Human Rights Council in 2012, the rights and security of religious minorities is one of my main thematic priority areas. I noted my particular concern about the disturbing amount of information which has been reaching my mandate and my fellow Special Procedures mandate holders regarding violations of the rights of religious minorities. Religious minorities frequently face discrimination, social exclusion, marginalization and in many instances harassment, persecution and violence. The reality is that, globally, the rights of religious minorities continue to be poorly implemented in practice. Indeed, in some regions the trend seems to be towards a worsening human rights situation for religious minorities. In view of this, I feel that it is particularly important and timely that this sixth Forum should focus on the issues of religious minorities. In my recent report to the General Assembly I advocate a minority rights-based approach to the protection of religious minorities by States, that includes vital protection of freedom of religion and belief, but which addresses their wider minority rights more effectively. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities requires protection of religious freedom, but also that States to go beyond guarantees relating to the right to worship and manifest religion. The Declaration requires States to protect the religious identity of minorities and encourage conditions to promote that identity. States are obliged to create favourable conditions to enable religious minorities to express their characteristics and develop their culture, customs and religion. But the Declaration also requires positive measures in legislation, policies and practices to create substantive equality for religious minorities in all fields of cultural, economic, public, political and social life. However, frequently these essential minority issues are neglected in many States, leading to challenges in such spheres as education, employment and political participation. I consider that protection and promotion of the full range of minority rights for religious minorities creates the conditions in which persons from all faiths can not only freely practice their religion, but are well integrated and feel that they are full stakeholders in all aspects of their societies. Protection of minority rights, together with initiatives by States to foster dialogue between faith groups, helps to build a culture of understanding, acceptance and trust across faiths and helps to prevent tensions from emerging and deteriorating into