This year session will build on previous achievements and will report on the rules that guaranteeing the rights of women belonging to minorities in all parts of the world, as well as the necessary policies to ensure the protection and empowerment of women belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities. To this end, I encourage participants, including grassroots organizations coming from all over the world and that represent the whole spectrum of society, to participate in a really constructive and interactive dialogue, to exchange views and share experiences and good practices, to report on obstacles and challenges, but especially to identify solutions. Hopefully your inputs will feed the work of the various bodies of the Council to address effectively the multiple forms of discrimination that girls and women belonging to minorities are subject to. It is essential that Member States and all other stakeholders, translate the recommendations of this Forum into action at local, national and international levels. The recommendations must be seen by States as a tool, that could help them in adopting legislation and policies or programs that ensure full respect for the rights of women belonging to minorities. It is in this spirit, with the purpose to make a meaningful difference in the lives of minorities in general and in particular those of women belonging to minorities, I wish you a substantive and action-oriented debate, successful and rewarding. Thank you very much for your attention