SARP human Rights Centre presantation at the United Nations
The right to education in one’s mother language is a fundamental civil and human right, recognized internationally through instruments like UNESCO that emphasize governments must protect linguistic heritage and ensure access to education in mother languages.
Education in the Mother Language is vital for personal growth, cultural preservation, national identity, and social inclusion. It fosters academic success, strengthens communities, and safeguards linguistic diversity. Children educated in their mother language learn better, express themselves freely, and contribute meaningfully to society. Denying this right undermines identity, weakens resistance to oppression, and facilitates cultural and political assimilation.
Over 35 million South Azerbaijanis in Iran, alongside other non-Persian nations, face systemic discrimination. From the ecocide of Lake Urmia through dam projects to the lack of mother language education, the Iranian regime systematically suppresses our identity. The education system serves as a tool for assimilation and humiliation rather than fostering creativity.
Meanwhile, the regime plunders resources, fuels conflict, and spreads hate, instead of investing in education, healthcare, or peace. Recent tensions in the Middle East have cost countless lives and billions of dollars, highlighting the regime’s disregard for human rights and UN principles.
We, South Azerbaijani human rights activists, call on the international community to support education in the mother language as a basic human right. We also urge our nation to join efforts to teach our children at home, ensuring the survival of our language, culture, and identity.
Araz Yurdseven
SARP Azerbaijani Human Rights Centre,