collective groups. Mr Thornberry also provided comments on the significance of the Declaration and on education for multiculturalism and interculturalism, stressing that the Declaration requires both acceptance of multiculturalism–the coexistence within states of separate cultures—and interculturalism: a close interaction between the different cultures based on reciprocal respect and joint promotion of equality in the common domain. Ms. Gay McDougall, former Independent Expert on minority issues, presented on “The First Mandate: Experiences and Lessons Learned”. She gave an overview of the mandate and the activities that she carried out during her six years as mandate-holder to address the four areas of concern that she had identified relating to minorities around the world i.e. protecting a minority’s existence, protecting and promoting cultural and social identity, ensuring effective non-discrimination and equality and ensuring effective participation of minorities in public life, especially with regard to decisions affecting them. She also commented on her role in guiding the work of the Forum’s first three sessions, describing the Forum as perhaps the most innovative approach to using and seeking implementation of the Declaration. As a conclusion, she listed the ways in which the potential of the mandate of the Independent Expert on minority issues might be maximised in the future and gave a few recommendations aimed at further strengthening and institutionalising the Forum while retaining its openness. Discussion The following issues were raised during the discussion under Item II: - - The fact that States are becoming more multicultural, including due to immigration; The increasing number of persons who do not have citizenship in European countries; The need for economic, social and cultural rights of minorities to be upheld; The fact that minority activism is considered as a security threat in certain States; The importance of access to justice and respect for due process and fair trial standards; The multiple forms of discrimination faced by certain minority women and girls and the importance of paying particular attention to their situation; The need for dialogue and mutual respect as vital elements to dispel stereotypes and mistrust, and to foster a culture of tolerance; The need for the Declaration to be injected back into the European discourse; Given the serious economic crises experienced by many States, the need to address the tendency to see minorities as being part of the problem rather than part of the solution; The importance of using the public media to inform about minority rights and protection, but equally of educating media actors about minority rights; The need to look into possible avenues to integrate minority rights more effectively in the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms; The importance of respecting the principle of self-identification of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities; Respect for minority rights as an important aspect in reducing the risks of inter-ethnic conflict; The need for greater focus on the rights of religious minorities in various regions of the world. 5