A/HRC/34/53 implementation of nationality laws on similar grounds. Minorities could also be at higher risk of statelessness as a result of lack of access to personal documentation. She emphasized that in times of humanitarian crisis, conflict or natural disaster, such a lack of protection could be particularly acute. Statelessness was often a root cause of forced displacement, particularly in times of crisis. Forced displacement could in turn heighten the risk of becoming stateless, particularly as documents could be lost during flight. 44. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur has repeatedly called attention to minority groups that have been in particularly precarious legal situations owing to their lack of citizenship or the refusal of their respective countries to recognize and grant them rights as minorities. She has sent several communications to Member States where discriminatory legislative amendments, immigration reforms and other administrative decisions have placed minority communities at further risk.4 4. Cross-cutting issues: youth and women belonging to minorities 45. The previous mandate holder recognized the role and potential of young men and women within minority communities to inspire and promote change and develop positive relations across communities, as well as to be agents of change within their communities. The Special Rapporteur has continued to engage with young people from minority communities to learn about their views and ideas and to encourage them to take leadership roles as well as to engage in positive activities to promote intercultural dialogue. She also continued to systematically engage with minority women and to consult them on their issues and concerns in all aspects of her work, including during country visits and in her communications to specific States. 46. The Special Rapporteur dedicated the first Forum on Minority Issues under her leadership, the fourth session, to the topic “Guaranteeing the rights of minority women”. The Forum participants recognized that it was particularly important that the voices and views of minority women be heard and that they be consulted and have the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of life, both within their communities and in the wider society. Barriers to the empowerment of some minority women, including lack of social or economic contacts, networks or minority women’s support groups, and scarcity of female minority role models had an important impact on the enjoyment by minority women and girls of their human rights. The Forum considered specific thematic areas in detail, for example, the access of minority women and girls to education; their ability to take part effectively in economic life and to have access to labour markets; and issues relating to their participation in social, cultural and political life. It recommended that Governments should seek and encourage opportunities for women’s participation and work together with minority communities as well as minority and women’s rights organizations to develop and implement programmes to sensitize minority women about their rights, and men about minority women’s rights. All the relevant documents, including statements, the final recommendations and the summary report, are available on the Forum’s website.5 47. Additionally, the Special Rapporteur organized separate meetings with minority women during her country visits to enable free and open discussions with them. Similarly, she frequently reached out to youth groups and organizations to listen to their views and recommendations. Wherever possible and necessary, the Special Rapporteur included the 4 5 See, inter alia, allegation letters to the Governments of the Bahamas, case BHS 1/2015 (A/HRC/30/27); the Dominican Republic, cases DOM 3/2013 (A/HRC/25/74) and DOM 1/2014 (A/HRC/29/50); Myanmar, cases MMR 4/2014 (A/HRC/28/85) and MMR 5/2015 (A/HRC/30/27); and the United States of America, case USA 4/2012 (A/HRC/21/49). See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Minority/Pages/Session4.aspx. 9