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KHRP is delivering a seminar today at the European Parliament in Brussels, regarding human rights and mother-tongue education in the Kurdish regions. The seminar is part of a series chaired by Jean Lambert MEP, Vice-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group of MEPs and KHRP�s Advisor on Environmental Rights.

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The series seeks to promote awareness and discussion of human rights issues in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq. KHRP aims to bring key members of the European Parliament together to discuss areas of concern such as human rights, the environment, and regional security in the Kurdish Regions as well as their implications for the EU.

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Linguistic rights in education imply both the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction and the inclusion of mother tongue learning in school curricula. There are severe violations of such rights, particularly in Turkey, Syria and Iran where the States fail to recognise and protect minority groups and instead consider the use of native languages and dialects a threat to the State�s unity and indivisibility. �This speech is intended to stress the importance of linguistic rights in education in the Kurdish regions and give an account of the limitations and restrictions imposed by national Governments, which affect the conditions of children and hamper the work of teachers and all the people committed to education, and impact upon the enjoyment of other human rights.

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Speaking at the seminar today is Rajesh Raj of the KHRP Board of Directors and Legal Team.

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KHRP Managing Director Rachel Bernu said �Linguistic rights in education are not even considered in the Kurdish regions, depriving children of an essential medium of communication, cultural identity and means of participation in community life. States prohibiting mother tongue education often resort to arguments based on vague and ambiguous legal provisions, prioritising the preservation of the State�s unity above respect for minority rights.�

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In July 2011, KHRP published a Briefing Paper on Mother-Tongue Education in the Kurdish Regions, which is available here: http://khrp.org/khrp-news/human-rights-documents/briefing-papers/cat_view/40-briefing-papers-and-speeches.html

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Rachel Bernu / Susie Talbot

Kurdish Human Rights Project

11 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1DH

Tel: 020 7405 3835

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.khrp.org

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The Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) is a UK registered charity committed to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons living within the Kurdish regions. �Its innovative and strategic approach to international human rights practice, combined with a long-term and consistent presence in the region, enables it to secure redress for survivors of human rights violations and prevent abuse in the future.

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