Turkey should ensure access to education for all migrant children
Strasbourg, 20/04/11 – “The
Turkish authorities must guarantee access to education for all migrant
children, including those in an irregular situation”, says the Council
of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, commenting
on a letter he sent to the Minister of National Education of the
Republic of Turkey.
After a visit to Turkey in 2009 the Commissioner recommended that the
authorities address reported shortcomings in providing access to
education for all migrant children. Last year the Ministry of National
Education took steps, which aimed at facilitating the access to
education of foreign nationals. However, the Commissioner notes that the
children or their legal guardians still are required to have a work or
residence permit. “I am concerned as this will effectively hinder the
provision of education to migrant children in an irregular situation”,
says the Commissioner.
Read
the letter addressed to the Minister of National Education of
Turkey
Read the Minister's reply
Press contact in the Commissioner’s Office:
Anki Wood, +33 (0)3 88 41 21 67;
anki.wood@coe.int Keep up to date with the Commissioner on
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