GENEVA (11 October 2021) – The European Regional Forum on conflict prevention and the protection of the human rights of minorities, convened by the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues Fernand de Varennes, will take place on 12 and 13 October. The Regional Forum will bring together some 200 representatives from States, UN and regional organisations, civil society groups as well as minorities. The event is co-hosted by the Governments of the Republic of Austria, Principality of Liechtenstein, Republic of Slovenia and Switzerland. The Regional Forum for Europe and Central Asia is the last of four regional fora convened in 2021 on preventing conflicts through justice and human rights for minorities. Discussions will inform the work and recommendations of the 14th session of the global UN Forum on Minority Issues taking place in Geneva in December 2021 also on the theme of "Conflict Prevention and the Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities". The European Regional Forum will take place online this year because of the pandemic and is open to the media. The event will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nFioBnLPu3b2ZufJGtD1w Learn more about the speakers and the schedule of the European Regional Forum on Minority Issues. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English, French, Russian and Romani. ENDS