Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues

Submission to the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
18th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues – Geneva, 27–28 November 2025
Submitted by Kurdish Organizations Participating in the Forum

Dear Special Rapporteur,

As the 18th Session of the Forum on Minority Issues focuses on the role of minorities in fostering diverse, resilient, and peaceful societies, we, the undersigned Kurdish organizations representing communities from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and the Kurdish diaspora in Europe, respectfully submit this contribution to your mandate. This submission aims to inform the Forum’s discussions on social cohesion, transitional justice, and inclusive governance by highlighting the enduring challenges faced by Kurdish communities across the Middle East and neighboring regions. It further seeks to draw attention to recurring patterns of exclusion, repression, and structural discrimination that continue to affect these communities.

Introduction: Kurds constitute one of the largest stateless ethnic communities in the world, with an estimated population of around 40 million people living mainly across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Over half of the Kurdish population resides in Turkey, where they make up approximately one-fifth of the total population. In terms of size, the Kurdish community represents the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East, following Arabs, Persians, and Turks.

1. Protection of Kurdish Cultural and Linguistic Rights

In most countries of the region except in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq the Kurdish language remains unrecognized in official settings or severely restricted in public life. This limits access to mother-tongue education, cultural expression, media representation, and meaningful participation in civic affairs. The lack of institutional recognition threatens the preservation of Kurdish identity and heritage. This situation also constitutes a violation of international human rights conventions on cultural rights and non-discrimination.

2. Instability and Insecurity in Kurdish-Populated Areas

Many Kurdish-populated regions continue to experience military operations, arbitrary restrictions, checkpoints, and limitations on humanitarian access. Daily life is shaped by insecurity, surveillance, and state-imposed constraints. These conditions contribute to chronic instability and undermine trust between communities and state institutions. Regular, independent, and impartial monitoring is therefore essential not only to prevent further deterioration but also to protect civilians and ensure access to essential services.

3. Equitable Participation in Political and Institutional Processes

Despite long-standing engagement in public life, Kurdish communities remain underrepresented in key national and international decision-making forums. Their exclusion particularly from political reform processes and constitutional development weakens democratic legitimacy and hinders long-term reconciliation. Ensuring meaningful and effective participation by Kurdish representatives, including women, youth, and members of religious minorities, is essential to fostering social cohesion and sustainable peace.

4. Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders operating in Kurdish areas often work under conditions of fear and intimidation. Many faces arbitrary detention, surveillance, travel restrictions, harassment, and reprisals. Women’s rights defenders and advocates for ethnic and religious minorities face heightened risks. Strengthened protection mechanisms, both nationally and internationally, are urgently required to safeguard their rights, security, and freedom of expression. Given the history of acts that may amount to genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity under international law, continued engagement by the United Nations is indispensable.

5. Structural Discrimination and Inclusive Public Policy

Across the region, Kurdish communities experience entrenched economic, legal, and administrative discrimination. Inequalities in public investment, access to services, and political representation deepen marginalization and social fragmentation. Addressing these structural barriers requires inclusive, equality-based public policies that actively eliminate discriminatory practices and promote genuine integration.

6. Disproportionate Impact of Conflict and Crisis

Kurdish populations along with other historically marginalized communities such as Yazidis, Kaka’i, and Shabak have been disproportionately affected by armed conflict, forced displacement, and the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and cultural sites. In many cases, security restrictions prevent displaced families from returning to their places of origin. Minority-sensitive and conflict-aware humanitarian and reconstruction strategies are needed to rebuild communities in conditions of safety, dignity, and sustainability.

7. Inclusion in Peacebuilding, Mediation, and Transitional Justice

Kurdish communities have frequently been excluded from formal peace negotiations, reconciliation initiatives, and transitional justice mechanisms. This exclusion undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of such processes and contributes to recurring cycles of conflict. Full and meaningful participation of Kurdish communities particularly women and youth are a critical requirement for sustainable peace and post-conflict recovery.

Our Appeal to the Special Rapporteur

In light of the above, we respectfully urge the Special Rapporteur to:

1.      Explicitly include the situation of Kurdish communities in upcoming reports to the Human Rights Council, with particular attention to structural discrimination and community-identified priorities;

2.      Issue clear and targeted recommendations on:

·       Recognition and legal protection of Kurdish linguistic, cultural, and religious rights;

·       Strengthening independent monitoring mechanisms in Kurdish-populated areas, including protections for other vulnerable minority communities;

·       Systematic inclusion of Kurdish and other minority representatives in political, constitutional, and institutional processes;

·       Enhancing and establishing gender-sensitive protection mechanisms for human rights defenders;

·       Adoption of inclusive and non-discriminatory public policies to dismantle structural exclusion;

·       Ensuring meaningful participation in peacebuilding, mediation, and transitional justice efforts.

We reaffirm our commitment to peace, human dignity, and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. We stand ready to engage constructively with your mandate and all relevant stakeholders to advance minority rights, social cohesion, and inclusive coexistence.

 

Signed by the participating Kurdish organizations:

Organizations with ECOSOC Consultative Status:

1. Centre Zagros pour les Droits de l’Homme
2. Barzani Foundation
3. Public Aid Organization (PAO)
4. Maloca Internationale

Other Organizations:

1.  Geostrategic Association for Kurdish Civil Society
2. Afrin–Syria Human Rights Organization
3. Deutsche Internationale Organisation für Entwicklung und Frieden
4. European Center for Development, Studies and Geostrategic Analysis (ECDA)
5. Federasyona Diyasporaya Kurdistanê li Swîsreyê
6. Geo-Strategic Studies Network
7. Humanitarian and Development Cooperation (HDC), Syria
8. Institut Kurde de Lausanne
9. KG Lobby Center
10. Kurdish Center for Legal Studies and Consultations (YASA)
11. Kurdish-Swiss Alliance
12. Kurdisch Österreicher Frauen – Verein für Kunst und Kultur
13. Projet Démocratique du Kurdistan iranien (PDKI)
14. Yekbûn Initiative for Kurdistan
15. Zakon Organization
16. Zozan Folklore Group