Format of the Forum The Forum followed the procedure that has been developed over its previous sessions. To help focus the discussions and ensure that they would be highly inter-active, each agenda item was introduced by a few pre-determined presentations before the Forum would hear interventions from other participants, based on a sign-up sheet. Outcome documents The present document is prepared in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 19/23 which requests the Chair to prepare “a summary of the discussion of the Forum, to be made available to all participants of the Forum”. This summary is to be complemented by the outcome document containing the recommendations of the Forum that will be presented by the Independent Expert on minority issues to the Human Rights Council at its 25th Regular Session in March 2014. This summary does not provide the full details of all presentations that were made during the Forum’s proceedings. The consolidated list of speakers and, where available, the full text of their presentations can be found on the Forum’s website at the following address: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Minority/Pages/Session6.aspx Item I. Opening meeting The Vice-President of the Human Rights Council, H.E. Ambassador Ms Iruthisham Adam, welcomed all participants on behalf of the President of the Council. She emphasized the high relevance of the issues discussed during this session of the Forum to the work of the Council, referring to different resolutions to this effect, including resolution 22/20 of March 2013 renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and recent resolutions on “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief”. She indicated that the Human Rights Council was looking forward to the recommendations of this session to be presented by the Independent Expert on minority issues at its 25th session in March 2014. The Chief of the OHCHR Special Procedures Branch, Ms Jane Connors, welcomed all participants on behalf of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She stressed that this Forum had contributed to greatly expanding the knowledge and understanding of the UN human rights system about the challenges facing minorities. She pointed to the key role played by UN mandate holders such as the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Independent Expert on minority issues who are at the forefront of efforts to promote and protect the rights of religious minorities. Referring to the important work conducted within the UN system in this regard, she gave as a positive example OHCHR’s involvement in the consultative process that resulted in the Rabat Plan of Action. She stressed that it is through sustained engagement with national authorities that international standards and recommendations from human rights mechanisms such as this Forum can best be implemented. 2