Statement by Slovenia at the 16th Session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues Minorities and cohesive societies: equality, social inclusion and socio-economic participation Geneva, 30 November 2023 Thank you Mr. Special rapporteur, co-chairs, dear participants,  It is a great pleasure to participate at this year's, already 16th Forum on Minority issues. Let me at the outset congratulate Mr. Levrat for his appointment as a special rapporteur for minority issues. I also extend warm welcome to both co-chairs of the Forum.  Slovenia has a long-standing commitment to the advancement of the rights of minorities and keeps supporting the promotion and full implementation of all international treaties and conventions, which protect human rights and rights of ethnic and national minorities. Here in Geneva Slovenia is also a member of a core group on human rights of persons belonging to minorities together with Austria and Mexico, and actively participates in topics of all-round interest for minorities.  Slovenia is well aware of the challenges we face in the process of integrating minorities and the obstacles to the social and economic participation of persons belonging to minorities. In the efforts to achieve more inclusive societies, Slovenia acts through legal and structural approaches, addressing the systemic and structural challenges that minority groups may face.