CoE commissioner slams Turkey for not approving Armenian community proposal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Protecting all migrant children’s access to education in Turkey must be guaranteed, according to a letter sent by the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights to the Turkish Education Ministry.

“States must guarantee access to education for all migrant children, including those in an irregular situation,” Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg said in his letter addressed to Minister Nimet Çubukçu.

A circular issued by the Education Ministry in August aimed to provide access to education for foreign nationals and to offer measures designed to ensure that foreign nationals receive an education adapted to their needs, including the waiver of an education visa requirement, said Hammarberg.

Nevertheless, he said the requirement of a work or residence permit either from the children or their legal guardians was making it difficult for migrant children in irregular situations to access education.

“Irrespective of the legal status of children, or the status of their parents or legal guardians, minors in an irregular situation right to a quality education must be guaranteed,” said Hammarberg, adding that during his visit to Turkey in 2009 he was informed specifically about the difficult situation for many children of Armenian migrants in Turkey.

In his letter to the ministry, the commissioner highlighted that Turkish authorities had not approved a proposal from the Armenian community to provide access to education for children in irregular situations.

In response, Çubukçu said according to the Law on Private Education Institutions, Turkish nationals belonging to the state-recognized minority groups – Armenians, Greeks and Jews – can attend minority schools and the required measures to address their needs are being taken sufficiently. Efforts have been continuing in the ministry to solve problems facing migrant children in irregular situations, she said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.