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OHCHR supported the convening of the fourth session of the Forum on minority issues, established by Human Rights Council resolution 6/15, which took place on 29 and 30 November 2011 in Geneva and focused on "Guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls.” Over 400 participants attended this fourth session, including persons belonging to minorities from all regions, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academia and experts as well as delegates from United Nations Member States. During the two-day discussions, the multiple discriminations faced by minority women as members of minorities and as women, and other barriers, including violence against women, were highlighted. The outcome document contained practical and concrete measures and recommendations aimed at guaranteeing the rights of minority women and girls, including to better protect them and raise their awareness on violence against women and girls. Hide

OHCHR, as Chair of Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), organized a side event on protecting victims of trafficking during the 17th session of the Human Rights Council (June 2011). The panelists included ICAT members (i.e. OHCHR, ILO, UNHCR, UNODC, IOM, UNICEF, UNAIDS, and Interpol).A regional consultative meeting on combating trafficking was organized in Qatar, in cooperation between OHCHR and the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Center for South West Asia and the Arab Region, and in partnership with the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking. Hide

OHCHR continued supporting the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, in its active engagement with civil society organizations, including through participation in regional consultations. In June 2011, the Special Rapporteur participated in consultations held in Brussels with European civil society organizations, including representatives of European observatories on violence against women. Hide

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign, the Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences issued a joint press statement highlighting how political transitions are unique opportunities to ensure that women participate equally in public life and that their rights in legal and social systems, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence in law and in practice are addressed. Also in connection with the 16 Days of Activism and the Human Rights Day, OHCHR posted a number of stories on its website: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Manuptoendviolenceagainstwomen.aspx Hide