Rita Iszak Video Message Madam President, High Commissioner, Madam Chair, your excellences, ladies and gentlemen, It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the fourth annual Forum on Minority Issues. I am sorry that cannot be with you in person over the next two days, but I hope that you will understand that I have to fulfil another and probably the most beautiful task in this world – to give life to a new human being. My first child will be born in just a few weeks time. The forum was established by the Resolution of the Human Rights Council in 2007 to identify and analyse best practices, challenges, opportunities, and initiatives for the further implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic minorities. Before I share some thoughts on the topics of this Forum guaranteed the rights of minority women, let me take this opportunity to thank and comment my predecessor, Miss Gay McDaugall for dedicated and successful work as the first holder of the mandate of Independent Expert on Minority Issues since 2005 until July this year. As part of her functions as an independent expert, Gay McDaugall expertly guided the sessions of the Minority Forum since its inauguration. Through her inspirational leadership it has been firmly established as a platform for dialogue, networking and exchange of practices and experiences on issues relating to minorities. It is my honour to take over the responsibility and to build on her work and continue guiding the Forum as the newly appointed Independent expert on Minority Issues. This Forum truly offers an essential opportunity to join together to address some of the key minority issues that continue to challenge states and minorities in all regions in a spirit of cooperation and constructive endeavour. This fourth session of the Forum will Focus on concrete measures and recommendations aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minority women. Building on the work carried out during the first three sessions of the Forum and recommendations emanating from that work , this session will focus on the rights and opportunities of minority women to have access to education, take part effectively in economic life, have access to labour markets and participate fully in social, cultural and political life. These are issues of great importance to minority women in every region of the world. I believe that the rights of minority women have not received the dedicated attention that they deserve. It is required to ensure that they fully enjoy all their rights. This landmark event will have to put the issues and concerns of minority women everywhere more clearly on the agenda of the United Nations. A a minority woman myself who aims to be successful both in her professional and private life and who has personally faced the challenges that will be discussed before this session, I particularly welcome the theme of the Forum this year, which will focus on minority women and their rights and opportunities in various fields of life. From my own experience I know that girls and women from disadvantaged minority face unique challenges from the very begging of their lives, that must be recognised and addressed. Not just by governments, NGOs and the decision-making bodies but also by minority communities themselves. Sadly, this century we continue to live in a world where girls from minority groups are less likely to go to school or stay in school than boys. Many girls will grow up with the expectation of early marriage, early childbirth, prescribed roles within their communities, and limited opportunities and prospects for finding fulfilling work outside of them. Poor life and the life of poverty and hardship is the reality of many women as they struggle to bring up their own children and families. Such minority girls and women are made uniquely vulnerable by the circumstances and may even fall pray to such violations of their rights as trafficking and sexual abuse. Minorities may also be deeply affected